Rising Sick Leave Rates Persist in Workforce, Reports Suggest

The latest data from the Techniker Krankenkasse indicates that employee sickness rates continue to remain elevated, with no significant improvement observed in the first half of the year. On average, employees took 9.5 days off due to illness from January to June, a slight decrease from 9.6 days during the same period in 2024. In contrast, the average number of sick days in the first half of 2019 was only 7.8 days.

The increase in sick leave has been largely attributed to a surge in respiratory illnesses, including colds and the flu, particularly at the beginning of the year. The CEO of Techniker Krankenkasse noted that the rise in absenteeism was evident in February, which saw higher sick leave rates compared to previous years.

Among the various health issues contributing to absenteeism, respiratory diseases accounted for the highest number of sick days, with each employee averaging 2.4 days off due to these ailments, slightly up from 2.3 days in the first half of 2024. Following respiratory illnesses, mental health issues such as depression were the second most common reason for taking sick leave, averaging 1.9 days per person. Additionally, musculoskeletal disorders, including back pain and herniated discs, resulted in an average of 1.3 sick days per employee during this period.

The findings are based on data collected from approximately six million employees insured by the Techniker Krankenkasse, highlighting the ongoing health challenges faced by the workforce. As businesses continue to navigate these issues, the implications for productivity and employee well-being remain a critical concern.