Are Germans taking more time off sick than anyone else? That question has become the subject of heated debate. Some German CEOs have been saying they think their workers take more time off sick than those in other countries. They claim a poor work ethic is compounding the

country's deep economic woes. Experts say that sick leave data is very difficult to compare internationally, but Germany's level is definitely among the highest in Europe. According to the country's biggest public health insurer, the average number of sick days per worker per year was 19.4 in 2022. That's a record level, and

it looks set to increase again in 2024. Why is that the case? Some experts say that Germany's generous protections for sick workers simply means that people can take time off when they need it, and then they can focus on being productive when they are well. Some politicians

blame a pandemic-era rule that enables workers to get a sick note from a doctor over the telephone. They say that is being exploited in some cases. Unions, though, say that a high sick leave rate always has one root cause: an unhappy or stressed-out workplace. They say that

company bosses should do some self-reflection before singling out their employees for blame.

Why Germany’s bosses are alarmed by staff illness  | FT #shorts

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Financial Times

German CEOs claim workers take excessive sick leave, linking it to poor work ethic and economic problems.

Germany's sick leave is among Europe's highest, reaching a record 19.4 days in 2022.

Experts suggest generous sick leave protections allow workers to recover and be more productive.

Possible explanations for high sick leave rate

Politicians blame a pandemic-era telehealth sick note rule for potential exploitation.

Unions attribute high sick leave to unhappy and stressed workplaces, urging employers to introspect.