Sick leave: Germany rising but not the worst in Europe
Germany is witnessing a sharp rise in sick leave, with employees now taking nearly 20 sick days per year on average, triggering major concern among policymakers and employers.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced stricter rules to tackle the growing number of absences from work. Starting next year, employees will no longer be allowed to obtain a sick note over the phone. Instead, they must visit a doctor in person and provide medical proof from the very first day of illness. The government believes excessive sick leave is hurting Germany’s economic competitiveness.
According to research by the Berlin-based IGES Institute, average sick leave in Germany has climbed to 19.5 working days annually, a significant increase from around 13 days in 2018. One major reason behind this rise is the introduction of the electronic sick note system, known in German as **eAU (elektronische Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung — electronic certificate of incapacity for work)**, which has improved reporting and made tracking absences more accurate.
Germany has one of Europe’s most generous sick leave systems. Employees are entitled to receive 100% of their salary for up to six weeks while sick, paid by their employer. After that, statutory health insurance provides about 70% of gross pay for up to 78 weeks for the same illness. Supporters say this system protects workers and helps prevent sick employees from spreading illness in workplaces.
Mental health problems and musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain remain among the biggest reasons for absenteeism. Healthcare workers report some of the highest sickness rates, while employees in data processing and IT tend to take fewer sick days. Critics of the government’s new policy argue that stricter rules may unfairly target genuinely ill workers and place additional pressure on doctors.
Despite the rise, Germany is not Europe’s worst performer in sick leave. OECD data shows countries such as Norway, Spain, and Slovenia report even higher absence rates, averaging five weeks or more per year. Finland, France, Portugal, and Belgium also rank above Germany. This means that while sick leave in Germany is rising rapidly, several European nations still record significantly more time off due to illness.