The country where most workers take sick leave now wants to tighten the rules

The chancellor presented the initiative as a way to restore what he called "fairness and functionality" to the job market, allowing employers and health insurers to react more rigorously to recurring absences. The change is part of a broader package of reforms and budget cuts in health and social security programs agreed by the governing coalition, formed by Merz's conservative bloc – made up of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) parties – and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). How does sick leave work in Germany? Germany has one of the most generous sick leave systems in the world. Workers are entitled to receive 100% of their salary for up to six weeks of absence, paid by the employer. Normally, it is necessary to present a medical certificate after three days of absence. After six weeks, public health insurance takes over the payment, covering around 70% of the gross salary, with a maximum limit, for up to 78 weeks over three years, as long as it is the same illness. In addition to protecting workers against loss of income, the system encourages adequate recovery and reduces the risk of disease transmission in the workplace. The German model contrasts with that of many other countries. In the United States, there is no federal requirement for paid sick leave. Many workers do not receive this benefit or only receive a few days, depending on the employer. In India, paid sick leave is often limited to a few days a year, and many short absences are unpaid. Rules vary widely across companies, industries, and states. In Brazil, sick leave is paid by the employer for the first 15 days of absence. For longer leave, from the 16th day onwards, the employee must request sickness benefit from the INSS, which assumes payment of the benefit. Within Germany itself, politicians and business leaders frequently criticize the system, arguing that it encourages absenteeism and harms productivity and competitiveness. The German economy is struggling due to growing competition from China, geopolitical tensions and high energy costs, among other problems. The government looks for ways to stimulate economic growth. Critics of Merz's reforms, however, say the measures could stigmatize legitimate illnesses and shift blame for the country's economic problems onto workers – especially an increasingly aging population. Why did Germany become the "sick man of Europe"? According to the IGES Institut, one of the main reasons for the increase in absences is the improvement of records. This was thanks to the new electronic medical certificate system (eAU), which came fully into force in 2023. Now, doctors send certificates directly to health insurers, and employers can access them digitally, making monitoring more accurate. The rule change provides that employees must obtain a certificate in person, and no longer over the phone. Jochen Tack/imageBROKER/picture alliance IGES argues that many short absences that were previously not recorded on paper now appear in statistics. Another factor is the change in behavior observed during and after the covid-19 pandemic. Workers have become more aware of virus transmission and today tend to stay home when they have a cold or flu. Although this is positive for public health, it increases the number of sick days recorded. Mental health problems have also increased as a cause of absences. Musculoskeletal disorders, such as back pain, remain among the main reasons for sick leave. The IGES survey, carried out for the insurance company DAK-Gesundheit, shows that healthcare professionals have the highest absence rates, while workers in the areas of information technology and data processing are among those with the least absence. How does Germany compare to other countries? The simplest form of comparison uses data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). However, the OECD calculates sick leave considering seven-day weeks, and not just working days, which makes a direct comparison with IGES numbers difficult. According to the OECD, Germany recorded an average of 3.5 weeks of absence last year, equivalent to around 24.5 days. Still, the country does not lead the ranking. Norway, Spain and Slovenia exceed five weeks of absence per year. Finland (4.8 weeks), France (4.1), Portugal (4.0) and Belgium (3.9) also have higher rates than Germany. On the other hand, several countries in Eastern and Southern Europe record much lower rates. Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Greece and Hungary average one week or less per year, while Polish workers take about 1.8 weeks (between eight and nine days). OECD data, which covers 32 of the organization's 38 member countries, indicates that US workers took an average of 1.1 weeks of sick leave in 2024, the most recent year available.