German Sick Leave Hits 21 Days as Misuse Rises – New Rules Target Retirees and Day-One Doctor Notes
17.06.2026 - 08:41:40 | boerse-global.de
A wave of absenteeism is reshaping Germany's workplace landscape, with average sick leave hitting 21 days per employee in 2024 – up from just 13 days in 2021. The Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA) released the figures, though the Techniker Krankenkasse reports a slight dip to 17 days in 2025. Behind the numbers, a Pronova BKK study reveals that 60 percent of workers have called in sick despite being fit to work, and 7 percent admit to doing so regularly. A Yougov survey adds that over a quarter of respondents have faked illness to miss work.
Employers are caught in a bind. The Fachkräftemangel (skilled worker shortage) is expected to leave around 3.5 million positions unfilled by 2035, while the DIHK warns that roughly 215,000 companies face unresolved succession issues – 57 percent of their relevant workforce is already over 55. Investing in employee health can cut the need for replacement staff by up to 10 percent, turning sick-leave management into a strategic lever.
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From 2027, working retirees in Germany face a significant change. The federal government plans to strip sick-pay entitlement from retirees who draw a Teilrente (partial pension) exceeding two-thirds of a full pension. The move is expected to save roughly 30 million euros annually. Meanwhile, digitalisation of absence recording has accelerated. Since 2023, employers must use the electronic Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung (eAU) for sick notes, and since September 2022, companies must systematically log all working hours – a foundation for precise absence analytics.
When a doctor's note loses its teeth. Courts are tightening scrutiny. The Landesarbeitsgericht Schleswig-Holstein ruled (case reference 5 AZR 137/23) that a sick note precisely covering a notice period weakens its evidentiary value, shifting the burden of proof to the employee. Employers can demand a medical certificate from day one if they have reasonable doubts. Unauthorised absence can lead to immediate dismissal.
Prevention is gaining momentum. Companies are legally required to offer Betriebliches Eingliederungsmanagement (BEM) after 42 days of sick leave, but experts push for earlier intervention. During the current Aktionswoche Alkohol (Alcohol Awareness Week), the Initiative Gesundheit und Arbeit (iga) launched a free web-training programme with modules on addiction prevention for workplaces. The Bundesverband der Angehörigen psychisch erkrankter Menschen (BApK) announced a counselling service for mental health, set to start in 2027.
In June, the industry association RealFM issued a guide on New Work and Workplace Services. On June 25, occupational psychologist Jenny Kriegel will deliver a lecture on how managers can spot early warning signs of absenteeism. With sick days climbing and misuse widespread, German companies are under pressure to balance legal tools, digital tracking, and genuine health investment.
