Germany Averages 22.4 Sick Leave Days Per Worker
More Companies Hiring Detectives to Investigate Sick Leave
A German teacher has sparked controversy in the country after it was revealed that they have been on sick leave for 16 years while continuing to receive their full salary. As the controversy grew, a German court ordered the teacher to undergo a medical examination to determine whether their health condition truly makes it difficult to work. On August 25, Yonhap News, citing the weekly magazine Stern and others, reported that a teacher employed at a vocational school in Wesel, North Rhine-Westphalia, has been extending their sick leave since the summer of 2009 and has not returned to school.
In Germany, employees can take up to six weeks of paid sick leave annually, and no medical certificate is required for absences of up to three consecutive days. For absences of four or more consecutive days, employees must obtain a "certificate of incapacity to work" without the diagnosis from a doctor and submit it to their employer. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article.
The principal, who has worked at the same school since 2015, told the media that they had never even heard of the teacher's name. The North Rhine-Westphalia authorities, who are the employer, reportedly only discovered last year that the teacher was on long-term sick leave. The story of this "ghost teacher" living undetected for 16 years came to light as a lawsuit over the extended sick leave unfolded. In April of this year, North Rhine-Westphalia demanded that the teacher undergo a medical examination. The teacher filed a lawsuit, arguing that there was no justification for the authorities to order a medical exam after more than 10 years, and that requiring a mental health assessment infringed on their personal rights.
Ultimately, both parties appeared in court, and on August 12, the court ruled in favor of the authorities. The court stated that while it was difficult to understand why the authorities had not requested a medical examination sooner, this did not affect the ruling. The court added, "Clarifying the health status is part of the employer's duty of care." Some media outlets reported that the teacher owns two houses in Duisburg. There are also suspicions that the teacher may have worked as an alternative medicine practitioner as a side job.
Germany Ranks First in Sick Leave Days Among OECD Countries
Meanwhile, as Germany faces a recent economic downturn, more German companies are hiring private detectives to investigate whether employees on sick leave are genuinely ill. In Germany, employees can take up to six weeks of paid sick leave per year, and no medical certificate is required for absences of up to three consecutive days. For absences of four or more consecutive days, employees must obtain a "certificate of incapacity to work" without the diagnosis from a doctor and submit it to their employer. Recently, more people have been abusing these laws, and in March, management at Tesla's German factory even withheld salaries, demanding that employees on sick leave provide specific explanations regarding their health conditions.
As of 2022, the most recent comparable statistics, Germany recorded an average of 22.4 sick leave days per worker, ranking first within the OECD. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay
Cases like Tesla's German factory are just one example, as many German companies are currently struggling with employee sick leave. Earlier this year, AFP reported that the "sick leave detective" business is booming in Germany, introducing the case of Markus Lenz, who runs a private detective agency in Frankfurt. Lenz said, "There has been a surge in requests from companies asking us to check on employees suspected of taking sick leave even though they are able to work," adding, "It is the highest number I have seen in my career." He continued, "More and more companies say they can no longer tolerate this," explaining that he receives up to 1,200 requests per year, which is double the number from a few years ago. Lenz noted, "If an employee takes 30, 40, or sometimes even 100 days of sick leave in a year, at some point it may no longer be economically attractive for the employer."
AFP reported, "Germany is facing various challenges due to the economic downturn. In this situation, many companies, from major automakers to fertilizer producers, are expressing concerns about the high rate of employee sick leave." Klaus Michelsen, chief economist at the German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, said, "The increase in sick leave applications has a significant impact. It certainly affects economic activity." The association assessed that as workplace absenteeism due to illness increased, Germany's output fell by 0.8% in 2023, and the economy contracted by 0.3%. Furthermore, as of 2022, the most recent comparable statistics, Germany recorded an average of 22.4 sick leave days per worker, ranking first within the OECD.
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