Frequent Sick Days on the Rise Across Germany
Coughs, sniffles, and back aches.
In a surprising turn of events, German employees are calling in sick more than ever before! According to a report in Rheinische Post newspaper, Germany is hurtling towards unprecedented sickness figures in 2023.*
For the first time in years, we're looking at "well over 20 days of absence per employee per year," DAK board member Andreas Storm confided to the newspaper.
As per DAK, the sickness rate reached an astounding 5% in the third quarter, which was already high compared to the 4.7% in the same period the previous year. On average, every DAK-insured employee took nearly five days off work during that quarter.
Interestingly, the summer flu epidemic wasn't responsible for this surge, and coronavirus didn't play a significant role during this period. Instead, most absences were due to common colds, flu-like infections, and bronchitis, followed closely by psychological diagnoses and musculoskeletal illnesses.
Preliminary reports suggest that other healthcare providers have also been grappling with high sickness rates amongst their policyholders.
Jens Baas, Techniker Krankenkasse CEO, shared, "Our evaluations indicate that the sickness rate among our policyholders insured by Techniker Krankenkasse was above average in the first ten months of the year. Although it's lower than the previous year's figure for the same period, it's still significantly high."
According to Rheinische Post, around six million insured individuals took sick leave at least once during the first ten months of 2023. This amounted to an increase of around ten percent compared to the same period in 2022.
One reason for this sudden spike in reported sickness is the introduction of the electronic reporting system, which offers a more accurate depiction of current sickness rates.
Furthermore, an unanticipated rise in mental illnesses such as Depression may stem from individuals' spending more time isolated due to health issues and decreased interaction with colleagues.
The German Employees' Health Insurance Fund acknowledges the prevalence of psychological diagnoses, hinting at a possible link between the rise in sick days and the escalating mental health issues.
In the context of these skyrocketing sickness rates, employers and health insurance advisors should consider implementing preventive measures, like mental health support programs, to curb the impact on employee wellbeing and productivity.
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Enrichment Insights:
Germany's unusually high number of sick days can be attributed to multiple factors, including:
- Increased Sick Leave: Nursing staff recorded an unprecedented 29.8 sick days on average in 2023, surpassing the 2021 and 2022 figures of 23.2 and 28.8 days, respectively[4].
- Respiratory Diseases: Respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, play a significant role in the increase in absenteeism, as do mental illnesses and musculoskeletal disorders[4].
- Mental Health Issues: Unemployment in Germany has a strong correlation with mental health issues. Over half of job seekers undergo socio-medical assessments and suffer from at least one psychiatric disorder, such as Depression, Anxiety, or stress-related disorders[2].
- Poor Work Conditions: Unfavourable working conditions, like high workloads, shift work, and insufficient rest periods, contribute to the high number of sick days, especially among professionals like paramedics[5].
- Statistical Changes: The shift in record-keeping practices, where doctors now electronically submit sick certificates to health insurers, may have given the impression of higher sickness rates. However, this change does not fully explain the actual increase in absences over the years[1].
These factors considerably impact the high number of sick days in Germany, underlining the need for better workplace support and mental health measures to tackle the underlying issues.
