Sick notice: Map shows where sickness rates are particularly high

It probably no longer surprises anyone that the number of respiratory diseases increases in autumn and winter. The high level of sickness in the Corona years can also be easily explained. But the fact that the number and duration of absences at work hardly seem to have decreased in the last two years has made some managers skeptical. Is it perhaps being made too easy for employees to call in sick? Mercedes boss Ola Källenius even fears that if German employees report sick more often than employees abroad.

There are several explanations as to why German health insurance companies have recorded an almost consistently high level of sickness since the corona pandemic. And none of these reasons have anything to do with a lack of commitment among working people. On the one hand, the statistics are distorted by a methodological effect: since 2022, certificates of incapacity for work have been recorded digitally and transmitted to the health insurance company. This means that the current figures are simply closer to reality than before.

But it is also true: the aging of the German population is progressing. Demographic change is also reflected in health status. The older the workforce, the longer sickness absences last on average. In addition, there is an increase in certain long-term illnesses. In particular, the importance of psychological disorders is growing and is causing ever longer absences among employees. A change in the way we deal with contagious infections is also often cited to explain why Germans often stay at home when they are sick.

The umbrella organization of company health insurance companies (BKK) explains how the sickness levels of its employed members are developing. The results are broken down according to gender, age, professional groups, medical condition and place of residence, among other things. This results in a very detailed picture of current trends and priorities, which were also summarized in December for 2024.

The BKK's monthly sick leave rates (see graphic at the top) largely correspond to the information provided by the statutory health insurance companies. Accordingly, the number of sick days in the months of the current year was roughly at the level of previous years. However, the difference compared to the years 2011 to 2021 is significant. The regular waves of illness in the winter months are also visible. Sickness rates are usually highest at the beginning of the year.

The average sickness rate so far this year has been 5.94 percent. The data refers to the period from January to November. Unfortunately, the monthly statistics do not show how long employees were absent on average. However, for 2023, the BKK umbrella organization determined an average of 11.5 days per case of illness.

This is a significant decrease compared to the Corona years 2020 and 2021, in which sick employees logged off from their boss for an average of more than 15 days. However, the number of cases and the number of sick days per member have increased significantly. From a purely statistical perspective, days of absence due to illness in 2023 amounted to more than three calendar weeks (22.4 days) per employee.

The large regional differences are also striking. Sickness rates in the new federal states are often above average. This year, for example, the monthly rate in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was almost 7.56 percent, significantly higher than the annual average in Bavaria (5.25 percent), Baden-Württemberg (5.06 percent) and Hamburg (5.17 percent). Saxony-Anhalt is the current frontrunner with an average sickness rate of 7.7 percent. Saarland is the only western federal state with a comparably high value (7.4 percent).

This fits with the demographics of the affected federal states: the aging of the population is particularly pronounced in the rural regions of eastern Germany. Evaluations of health insurance data by age group show that younger employees report sick more often. However, they are usually only absent from work for a few days. Absenteeism increases with increasing age.

The BKK even has data for 2023. The national average this year was 6.1 percent of employed BKK members. In large parts of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, however, this value was undercut, while companies in other parts of the country had to contend with significantly more absences due to illness. The total number of absences fluctuates between almost 15 days per year per employee in Stuttgart or Munich and a peak of 34 days in Hildburghausen, Thuringia.

Health care and the socio-demographic structure of a region certainly play a major role. This has long been scientifically proven: general prosperity has a positive effect on the health of a population, while poverty reduces life expectancy. The BKK health report also emphasizes that only “peace, security, education, income, a healthy environment, social justice and equal opportunities” can create the basis for a successful health policy.

The BKK also takes a detailed look at the different professional groups in its member base. This shows, among other things, that waste disposal has the highest sickness rates of all the sectors represented. On the other hand, the fewest absences from work occur in the information services industry.

A breakdown by occupational group also shows that sickness-related absences from work are a major issue, particularly in raw material processing, but also in the transport industry and among cleaning workers. Teachers, on the other hand, are among the professional groups with a comparatively low failure rate. Employees who work in the office or in creative areas also appear to call in sick less often. However, it is difficult to say to what extent these statistics are representative of all employees in Germany.

In any case, the BKK umbrella organization comes to the conclusion that there cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to health care. Rather, one must respond "with an appropriate variety of options for health-promoting behavioral and, above all, relationship changes" that are "tailored to the job-related and individual needs of employees." A successful health policy should not be limited to appeals to the individual affected, but must also create the right framework conditions. As an example, the health insurance association cites the stricter laws to protect non-smokers, which have demonstrably contributed to the fact that cigarettes have not only become less common - they also cause less damage overall.

This article first appeared at ntv.de