Sickness notifications likely to reach record high

Sick Days Skyrocketing in Germany: A New High in Absenteeism

With the coronavirus seemingly taking a back seat, one would expect sickness notifications to decline. However, Germany is bracing for a record high in sick days this year, according to a report in the "Rheinische Post" newspaper. Major health insurance companies are tracking almost as many sick days as during the pandemic's peak, with some even surpassing the previous highs.

DAK board member Andras Storm shared their analysis, revealing an expected 20% increase in absences per employee by year's end, marking the first time to exceed 20 days in many years. The third quarter sickness rate was a staggering 5%, even higher than the 4.7% recorded in the same period in 2022. Each DAK-insured employee took an average of four-and-a-half sick days, despite the absence of a summer flu wave and a near-stagnant infection rate.

Health insurance giants like DAK-Gesundheit and Techniker Krankenkasse are reporting consistent high sickness rates, as revealed by the newspaper. According to Techniker Krankenkasse CEO Jens Baas, their insured members recorded an above-average sickness rate in the first ten months of 2023. This is a slight drop compared to the previous year, but it remains alarmingly high.

Barmer, another major health insurance company, has also witnessed a rise in sick leave. In the first ten months of 2023, approximately six million insured individuals claimed sick pay at least once, representing a 10% increase compared to the same period last year. The surge in reports may be attributed to the introduction of electronic reporting, making the data more accurate.

1. Statistical Shift in Record-Keeping The transition from manual to digital record-keeping is likely contributing to the surge in reported cases, enabling a more accurate count of sick days.
2. Actual Increase in Absenteeism There's evidence suggesting an actual uptick in absenteeism, a trend that preceded the pandemic according to labour attorney Michael Fuhlrott.
3. High Sickness Rate Compared to EU Average Germany's sickness rate is significantly higher than the EU average, putting a substantial strain on the economy.
4. Economic and Social Factors The economic climate in Germany, including low productivity growth and worker hours, play a role in influencing high sickness rates.
5. Policy and Legal Framework The legal framework for sick leave, mandating employer coverage of labour costs for six weeks and requiring a doctor's note for absences longer than three days, may affect reporting.

In summary, a multitude of factors, including statistical shifts, actual absenteeism, high sickness rates compared to the EU average, economic and social factors, and policy and legal frameworks, contribute to Germany's significant increase in sickness notifications, surpassing pandemic peak levels.