Germans take over a day off work sick every month-so the government is proposing to cut their pay

Key Points:

• German workers take an average of 14.8 sick days annually, one of the highest absenteeism rates in Europe, costing businesses approximately €82 billion ($110 billion) per year.
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are considering reforms that would dock pay from the first day of sick leave but offer bonuses to workers who take five or fewer sick days, aiming to reduce minor sick leave absences.
• Germany currently has generous sick leave policies, including up to six weeks of fully paid leave per illness, which critics argue contribute to low productivity and high absenteeism.
• The broader context highlights a global rise in workplace burnout, with studies showing high levels of employee unhappiness and mental health challenges, especially among millennials and younger workers.
• Post-pandemic workplace dynamics, including return-to-office mandates and increased competition, have exacerbated stress, anxiety, and workplace incivility, complicating efforts to manage absenteeism and productivity.