Overview
- An exclusive analysis of data from five million BKK‑insured workers confirms sustained increases in sick leave since 2021, reaching the highest levels in years.
- Acute respiratory infections and Covid‑19 accounted for 58% of the additional cases in 2022 and 41% in 2023, with respiratory diseases making up about 20% of all sick days in 2024.
- Mandatory electronic sick notes (eAU) increased reporting completeness, contributing to the higher recorded totals.
- Sick days vary widely by location and job: Baden‑Württemberg averaged 18.5 days in 2024 versus roughly 28 in Saarland and Saxony‑Anhalt, with Mansfeld‑Südharz near 31 and Starnberg at 14.5; cleaning, logistics and manufacturing roles show the highest absence rates, while leadership and IT roles show the lowest.
- Mental health absences are rising and often lengthy, musculoskeletal disorders remain a large but stable burden, and specialists urge stronger workplace prevention with targeted vaccinations now recommended by European cardiology bodies.