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27 clusters · 129 sources · 142 days · First seen · Last updated
Germany addresses rising sick leave costs and mental health
Overview
By late 2026, German health insurers DAK, AOK, and hkk report a significant surge in workplace absenteeism driven by mental health issues. hkk data from the first half of 2026 shows psychological disorders increased by 9.3 percent, surpassing musculoskeletal issues as the most frequent cause of absence, with cases averaging 38.8 days. AOK reports indicate mental health-related sick leave averaged 28.5 days per case in 2025, while the AOK Scientific Institute notes a nearly 42 percent increase in such sick days over the last decade.
Depression remains the primary driver, representing 55 percent of mental-health-related absences. High-stress sectors like healthcare, public administration, and education are disproportionately affected. Additionally, rising stress levels are linked to digital stress, with 44.2 percent of respondents feeling constantly ‘on call’. Experts suggest that ongoing crises, including the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and inflation, have contributed to declining psychological well-being, particularly among young women.
In response to rising costs—which reached a record 85.6 billion euros in employer sick pay—the government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed tightening regulations. This includes requiring medical certificates from the first day of illness. The proposal has faced political friction; Labor Minister Bärbel Bas questioned its utility, and AOK Nordost warned it could increase absenteeism by approximately 10 percent. Meanwhile, the Bundestag passed legislation to introduce partial sick leave by 2028, allowing doctors to certify reduced working capacity in 25 percent increments for long-term illnesses.
Entities
Germany · AOK · DAK-Gesundheit · Friedrich Merz · Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Mental‑health disorders were the most common reason for sick leave in the first half of 2026 in Bavaria.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Acute stress reactions and adjustment disorders were the most common psychiatric diagnosis among employed persons in 2025.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Mental‑health related absences are the second‑biggest cause of absence after respiratory diseases in Germany.
- [● 2 SOURCES] These diagnoses were the third most frequent cause of sick leave overall, after upper‑respiratory infections and back pain.
- [● 5 SOURCES] In 2025 German employees recorded 119 sick days per 100 insured due to acute stress reactions and adjustment disorders.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Average sick‑leave days rose sharply after electronic sick‑note reporting was introduced in 2022.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Mental disorders accounted for 4.8% of sickness cases in Germany.
- [● 4 SOURCES] In 2024 the same diagnoses accounted for 112 sick days per 100 insured.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Germany will scrap telephone sick notes and require medical certificates from the first day of absence.
- [● 3 SOURCES] German workers took an average of about 22 days of sick leave in 2024.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Women in health‑care and social work took an average of 27 sick days in 2024; teachers took 24.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Researchers link high absenteeism in nursing, care work and teaching to chronic understaffing, low pay, weak career prospects and high emotional demands.
Timeline
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[HEALTH] 2 sourcesGermany faces rising mental health-related absenteeism
Mental health-related absences in Germany rose by 9% in early 2026, as depression and anxiety become leading causes of sick leave and challenges in securing disability status persist.
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[BUSINESS] 2 sourcesGerman reports highlight rising mental health issues and leadership health gaps
New reports in Germany show a 42% increase in mental health-related sick days and highlight that executives often neglect their own health while managing employee well-being.
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[HEALTH] 2 sourcesMental health absences rise in Germany, according to insurer reports
Reports from DAK and AOK show rising mental health-related sick leave in Germany, with depression driving 55% of absences and average leave durations reaching 28.5 days per case.
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[HEALTH] 12 sourcesGermany sees sharp rise in mental health-related sick leave
Mental health-related sick leave in Germany is rising sharply, with AOK reporting a 42 percent increase in absences over ten years. Experts link the trend to ongoing societal crises and high workplace stress.
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[HEALTH] 4 sourcesMental health issues drive rise in German workplace sick leave
German health insurers report a rise in sick leave due to mental health issues, which have become a leading cause of workplace absence characterized by longer recovery periods.
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[BUSINESS] 5 sourcesGermany faces 85.6 billion euro cost from employee sick leave
German employers face 85.6 billion euros in sick leave costs in 2025, while Poland sees rising absenteeism, prompting calls for better system controls to protect economic productivity.
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[HEALTH] 7 sourcesGermany stress levels rise as survey shows increased burnout
A KKH survey in Germany shows 54% of people feel more stressed than in previous years, with many reporting burnout, sleep issues, and exhaustion despite knowing the importance of health prevention.
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[HEALTH] 2 sourcesMental health issues rise in Germany as sick leave increases
Mental health diagnoses have become the leading cause of sick leave in Germany, rising by 9.3 percent, while studies link social isolation to smoking and high levels of digital stress.
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[BUSINESS] 2 sourcesGermany to introduce partial sick leave starting in 2028
Germany will introduce partial sick leave in 2028, allowing employees to be certified as 25, 50, or 75 percent incapacitated for illnesses lasting longer than four weeks.
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[HEALTH] 2 sourcesAOK Nordost warns of rising sick leave rates
AOK Nordost warns that requiring medical certificates from the first day of illness could increase sick leave rates by up to ten percent, suggesting a focus on long-term illness instead.
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[POLITICS] 6 sourcesBärbel Bas questions mandatory sick leave medical certificates
German Labor Minister Bärbel Bas has challenged a coalition agreement requiring medical certificates from the first day of sick leave, calling the previous consensus a potential ‘quid pro quo.’
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[BUSINESS] 7 sourcesGerman companies pay record 85.6 billion euros in sick pay
German companies paid a record 85.6 billion euros in sick pay last year, driven by higher wages, increased employment, and rising sick leave rates, according to the German Institute of Economic Research.
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[POLITICS] 46 sourcesBärbel Bas questions mandatory first-day sick leave certificates
German Labor Minister Bärbel Bas is questioning a coalition plan to require medical certificates from the first day of sick leave, citing concerns over effectiveness and numerous planned exceptions.
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[HEALTH] 4 sourcesGermany stress levels rise according to TK Stress Report 2025
The TK Stress Report 2025 shows rising stress levels in Germany, with two-thirds of people reporting stress due to work, education, and societal issues, highlighting a growing need for regeneration.
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[POLITICS] 13 sourcesGermany plans stricter sick leave rules amid concerns of increased absenteeism
A German government plan to require medical certificates from the first day of illness may increase absenteeism, according to a VdK survey, as workers may seek longer leave to avoid repeat doctor visits.
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[BUSINESS] 2 sourcesGermany faces economic pressure from high sick leave rates
Germany is addressing high sick leave rates, with officials proposing stricter rules, while researchers point to burnout and high emotional demands in sectors like healthcare as underlying causes.
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[HEALTH] 5 sourcesRheinland-Pfalz sick leave rate decreases in early 2026
Sick leave in Rheinland-Pfalz fell to 5.5% in early 2026, as respiratory infections declined while musculoskeletal and mental health issues became the primary causes of absenteeism.
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[HEALTH] 5 sourcesDAK reports slight drop in sick‑leave rates in Rhineland‑Palatinate (Jan‑Jun 2026)
DAK reports a modest fall in sick‑leave rates to 5.5 % in Rhineland‑Palatinate (Jan‑Jun 2026), with respiratory cases down and musculoskeletal/mental‑health absences up.
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[HEALTH] 10 sourcesStress-Related Sick Days Reach Record 119 per 100 Insured in Germany 2025
German workers faced a record 119 sick‑days per 100 insured in 2025 from stress‑related diagnoses, up 80 % since 2017, according to KKH.
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[HEALTH] 23 sourcesMental health tops sick‑leave reasons in Germany as reforms loom
DAK data show mental‑health issues now lead sick‑leave in Germany, rising 12% in Bavaria while respiratory cases fall; average leave is 22 days/worker in 2024 and the government plans to scrap telephone sick‑le
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[HEALTH] 13 sourcesGermany's sick‑leave rate modestly falls in early 2026, mental health becomes leading cause
DAK reports Germany’s sick‑leave rate fell to 5.3% in H1 2026, with mental health now the top cause and younger workers missing fewer days.
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[HEALTH] 2 sourcesGermany's 2025 sickness benefit spending reaches €21.6 billion
Germany's 2025 sickness benefit costs are set to hit €21.6 bn, driven by rising sick days—especially mental and musculoskeletal issues—and prompting firms to adopt AI, wearables and data‑focused health programs
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[HEALTH] 6 sourcesGerman health insurers warn of rising costs from long‑term sick leaves
German insurers report soaring sickness‑benefit costs as long‑term sick leaves rise, driven by mental‑health and musculoskeletal issues; the coalition plans stricter certification rules.
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[HEALTH] 9 sourcesBavarian Court Bars Health Card Revocation Over Unpaid Contributions
Germany's Bavarian Landessozialgericht ruled insurers may not block health cards for unpaid contributions, preserving card entitlement despite suspended benefits.
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[BUSINESS] 2 sourcesGermany: Errors in Health Records Threaten Disability Insurance Claims
In Germany, inaccurate health record information can jeopardize disability and private health insurance claims, as insurers verify disclosures and may reject or adjust policies if omissions are discovered.
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[BUSINESS] 4 sourcesGerman insurers warn of health record errors and promote SF‑class strategies for lower premiums
German insurers stress accurate health disclosures to avoid claim disputes and outline SF‑class tactics to reduce car‑insurance premiums.
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[BUSINESS] 2 sourcesGerman insurers urge early disability planning and new liability solutions for families and SMEs
German insurers push early disability coverage for youth and introduce flexible liability products for SMEs amid rising health risks and new regulatory challenges.
Sources
ad-hoc-news.de · aend.de · aerzteblatt.de · aktienkurs-orderbuch.finanznachrichten.de · allgaeuer-anzeigeblatt.de · allgaeuer-zeitung.de · ap-verlag.de · artikel-presse.de · augsburger-allgemeine.de · bbv-net.de · berliner-sonntagsblatt.de · berlinstory-news.de · betriebsrat.de · bild.de · biznes.interia.pl · borncity.com · brandaktuell.at · braunschweiger-zeitung.de · business-punk.com · caretrialog.de · cash.ch · cheerworld.dk · cnnmoney.ch · courage-online.de · dattelner-morgenpost.de · derwesten.de · deutschesgesundheitsportal.de · deutschlandsuchtdensuperstar.de · diruj.de · dk-online.de · dorstenerzeitung.de · epochtimes.de · eu-schwerbehinderung.eu · extratipp.com · fehmarn24.de · femina1912.fr · finanznachrichten.de · focus.de · fractal.org.za · futurezone.de · gateo.de · gazetaprawna.pl · go-with-us.de · halternerzeitung.de · harzkurier.de · hasselwander.co.uk · hellwegeranzeiger.de · heute.t-online.de
This summary has been updated 28 times: see revision history