[REVISION HISTORY]

Germany addresses rising sick leave costs and mental health

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2026-10-23 00:06 UTC → 2026-10-28 12:43 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

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