As Germany's Sick-Leave Crisis Deepens, Government Bets on Partial Work Model to Cut Costs and Absenteeism
12.06.2026 - 15:49:35 | boerse-global.de
A fresh survey paints a striking picture of workplace behaviour in Germany: nearly 60 percent of employees admit they have called in sick when they actually felt well enough to work. The figure, released by Pronova BKK, lands as the country’s average sick leave hits a new high. Between January and November 2025, workers were off for 17 days on average, up sharply from 13 days in 2021.
The mounting absenteeism is putting intense pressure on the public health system. Without corrective measures, Germany’s statutory health insurance (GKV) risks a deficit of 15.3 billion euros by 2027. Health Minister Nina Warken has now unveiled a package of spending cuts and rule changes — with the centrepiece being a partial sick-leave model borrowed from Scandinavia.
Under the proposed law, doctors would be able to certify incapacity for work in increments of 25 percent, ranging from 25 to 100 percent. An employee could thus continue working part-time while officially on sick leave for the remainder. The model only applies to illnesses lasting more than four weeks and requires the worker’s consent. Employers then have seven days to decide whether to accept the reduced workload. If management refuses, the original full sick note stands unchanged.
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A study by the IGES Institute projects that the scheme would encourage faster returns to the workplace and reduce long?term sickness. Financially, the projected savings for the GKV are modest at first — 40 million euros in 2027 — but are expected to climb to 160 million euros by 2030. The government aims to pass the legislation before the summer parliamentary break.
The total reform package, wrapped into the so?called GKV?Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz, also includes higher co?payments and tighter rules for spousal insurance coverage. Starting in 2027, health insurers will be allowed to contact members who are on sick leave directly, even without the member’s prior permission — a change intended to speed up reintegration.
Meanwhile, courts are reinforcing what counts as legitimate sick leave. A Munich social court rejected a cleaner’s claim for sick pay (Krankengeld) after finding she had already been objectively unfit for work when she started the job, with no subsequent improvement. In Düsseldorf, the regional labour court ruled that employers must pay compensation if they hire private detectives to monitor workers without concrete evidence of fraud.
Court rulings like these highlight the importance of having clear, legally sound policies in place. For UK businesses, the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 sets the foundation for workplace safety and employer responsibility. A free toolkit with nine practical tools — including risk assessments, checklists and a director liability guide — can help you stay compliant. Get the free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit
Other workplace?related updates have also taken effect. At the end of May, the German cabinet voted to add Parkinson’s syndrome caused by pesticide exposure to the official list of occupational diseases. And since 29 May, new rules governing the role of company safety officers (Sicherheitsbeauftragte) have been in force.
The basic rules for reporting sick remain unchanged: employees must inform their boss immediately. A medical certificate is typically required only from the fourth day of absence, though employers can demand one from day one. Since 2023, electronic sick notes (eAU) have been compulsory for publicly insured workers. During a sick leave period, employees may do anything that does not hinder recovery. A properly issued sick note carries strong legal weight — but doubts can arise if, for example, a worker calls in sick right after being denied holiday or is caught engaging in behaviour that clearly contradicts recovery. In such cases, the medical service can step in to investigate.
