Rising Sick Leave in Germany: Understanding the Causes

In Germany, the rate of sick leave among employees has reached alarming levels, raising questions about the underlying causes. Recent statements from health officials and studies suggest that the increase in absenteeism is not predominantly due to employees feigning illness, but rather linked to the introduction of digital sick notes and a rise in respiratory infections.

According to the German Federal Statistical Office, on average, employees were reported sick for 15.1 working days in 2023. This marks a significant increase from previous years, with a nearly 40% jump in sick days recorded from 2021 to 2022, as highlighted by a recent study conducted by the DAK Health insurance group.

The President of the German Medical Association noted that the implementation of electronic sick notes in 2021 led to a more accurate tracking of absences. Previously, many employees failed to submit their paper sick notes to health insurers, resulting in an underreporting of illness. With the electronic system, all sick leave occurrences are now fully recorded.

The DAK study indicates that the reporting effect--whereby more people officially document their illnesses--accounts for around 60% of the increase in sick leave, depending on the diagnosis. Furthermore, an uptick in respiratory illnesses and COVID-19 infections has contributed to this trend, with one-third of additional sick days attributed to heightened cases of colds and flu.

Additionally, there is a notable shift in patient behavior; many individuals now seek medical attention for relatively minor ailments, often due to employer demands for a sick note from the first day of illness. This has created what health officials describe as an artificial effect, where patients feel compelled to visit a doctor even for trivial health issues.

The discourse surrounding sick leave has gained traction among business leaders and politicians. Recently, a prominent executive suggested reconsidering the policy of continued pay from the first day of illness, a proposal that has faced significant backlash from labor unions. Critics argue that such changes could lead to increased workplace illness and accidents, as employees may feel pressured to come to work despite being unwell.

In Germany, unlike in some other countries, the system of continued pay for sick leave has been in place for decades, and any potential changes to this policy could have far-reaching implications.

The CEO of DAK has emphasized the need to address the growing culture of mistrust in workplaces, stating that the increase in sick leave should not be hastily attributed to frivolous absenteeism. Instead, he suggests that the rise is primarily linked to improved statistical tracking and genuine health concerns.

Moreover, the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a heightened awareness of infectious diseases, prompting more individuals to take sick leave to avoid spreading illness. This shift in attitude towards health and contagion has likely influenced the current sick leave statistics.

In response to these developments, political leaders have been urged to clarify their stance on sick leave policies, with calls for clear opposition to any proposals that would limit employee rights in this area. The potential for further increases in sick leave costs is significant, with estimates suggesting that employers spent around EUR76.7 billion in 2023 on continued pay for sick employees.

The Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research has also conducted analyses indicating that Germany likely has one of the highest rates of absenteeism globally, with various factors contributing to this trend. Improved data reporting, increased illness rates, and changes in employee behavior are all significant components of this complex issue.