Figures from Germany’s largest statutory health insurer have revealed record-high sick leave rates among the country’s working population in 2024. 

Sick leave rates soar in 2024

According to a survey by the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), Germany’s largest statutory health insurer, in 2024 more people were off sick from work in the first 11 months of the year than ever before.

On average, people covered by TK were off sick for 17,7 days between January and November 2024, a new record. For comparison, during the same time frame in 2021, TK insurees were ill for an average of 17,4 days and in 2019, for an average of 14,1 days.

“The main reason given for missing days were, as before, cold diagnoses such as the flu, bronchitis or coronavirus,” TK representative Jens Baas explained. Mental health diagnoses, such as depression and musculoskeletal conditions were respectively the second and third-most cited reasons for time off work.

When it comes to cold and flu cases, Baas believes that the normalisation of self-isolation and keeping distance which developed during the coronavirus pandemic in Germany has been maintained and people still feel a responsibility not to pass their sicknesses on to others.

74 percent of women and 67 percent of men surveyed said that if sick they would still avoid busy indoor spaces where cold and flu germs spread more easily.

Germany braces for flu wave in early 2025

According to a recent assessment by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), things aren’t set to change in 2025, at least not in the early winter months.

The disease monitoring and prevention institute has warned of a wave of standard cold and flu cases heading to Germany. Cases have been rising since the beginning of December 2024.

In the first week of December 2024, flu-related admissions to hospitals had risen by 18 percent, by December 30 the same figure had risen to around 27 percent.

Other European countries have reported similar waves. At the end of December, around 5.000 people were being treated for flu symptoms in UK hospitals.

The RKI has urged anyone who is eligible for an annual flu jab to get theirs soon. According to the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), this includes anyone aged over 60, adults with underlying health conditions and health and care workers.

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