Recent debates in Germany question whether sick leave rates are truly at an all-time high and if they pose a risk to the economy. While businesses express concerns over absenteeism, reports indicate a slight decline in sick leave days and shorter illness durations. OECD data supports this, showing consistent absence rates comparable to pre-pandemic years. Enhanced data collection methods are believed to contribute to the perceived increase, while the impact of telephone sick leave remains contested.
Are Sick Leave Rates in Germany Really at an All-Time High? Understanding the Economic Impact and Misconceptions
Recent discussions have sparked debate regarding whether sick leave in Germany has truly reached unprecedented levels and if this trend is threatening the nation’s economic stability. Reports circulating in the media often suggest a dramatic rise in sick leave, with some insinuating it may be contributing to economic challenges. Publications like Der Spiegel question if Germany has become a “paradise for malingerers,” while Die Welt features accounts from anonymous employees detailing how they feigned illness without legitimate health concerns.
Businesses have increasingly voiced their concerns over the rising sick leave. Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, stated in Der Spiegel that the high rates of absenteeism present a significant challenge for companies. Notably, sick leave in Germany can be nearly twice as high as in other European nations under similar production conditions, which inevitably has economic repercussions.
To further emphasize the issue, the German plant manager of Tesla has taken the unusual step of making surprise home visits to employees who reported sick, finding no apparent health issues. Similarly, K+S, a manufacturer of fertilizers and salt, lowered its annual forecast citing a high number of sick employees, with CEO Burkhard Lohr remarking on the persistently elevated sick rates across the country.
Conflicting Reports from the Economy and Health Insurance Providers
However, the narrative is not as straightforward as it may seem. The latest health report from the BKK umbrella association of company health insurance funds presents a different picture, indicating a slight decrease in sick leave rates for 2023 to an average of 22.4 days per employee, down from the previous year. Moreover, the average duration of incapacity per case has reached a ten-year low at 11.5 days.
OECD Data Challenges the Narrative of Rising Sick Leave
Statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) further challenge the claims of rising sick leave in Germany. Their findings show that in 2023, employees were absent due to illness for an average of 6.8 percent of their working time—consistent with the pre-pandemic years from 2015 to 2019. Comparatively, France reports slightly higher rates, while Belgium, Sweden, and the Netherlands show lower figures. The OECD derives its statistics from independent surveys rather than solely relying on health insurance reports.
The Role of Improved Data Collection in Rising Sick Leave Figures
So, what accounts for this discrepancy in sick leave reports? Researchers from the Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) suggest that enhanced statistical tracking is largely responsible for the perceived increase in absenteeism. Prior to 2022, it was at the discretion of employees to report sick notes to both their employer and health insurance providers, leading to underreported sick leave. Currently, health insurance companies automatically receive all sick leave notifications, resulting in a noticeable rise in recorded cases. Additionally, a heightened awareness of respiratory illnesses post-pandemic and seasonal cold waves have contributed to the spike in absenteeism.
Despite these findings, there remains a need for a comprehensive and representative dataset in Germany to accurately capture absenteeism trends based on illness duration.
Examining the Impact of Telephone Sick Leave
Amidst the ongoing debate, the notion that sick leave rates are significantly elevated in Germany continues to circulate, often attributed to the ability to report illness via phone without a doctor’s visit. Critics argue that this option is frequently misused, prompting calls from politicians like FDP leader Christian Lindner for its elimination to encourage workforce participation. Similarly, Steffen Kampeter, managing director of the Confederation of German Employers (BDA), has echoed these sentiments.
In contrast, AOK chairwoman Carola Reimann argues that the responsible use of telephone sick leave, particularly during infection surges, has been beneficial in relieving pressure on healthcare facilities. She asserts that various factors contribute to the heightened sick leave rates, but telephone reporting is not among them. The ZEW researchers also dismiss the idea that telephone sick leave significantly influences the increasing number of sick reports. Their analysis from 2020 to 2023 indicates that when this reporting option was temporarily suspended, the expected decrease in sick leave numbers did not occur, suggesting that the process should remain in place.