Mental Disorders Account for 16.7% of Sick Leave as German Occupational Doctors Push for Digital Records Access
01.07.2026 - 09:05:13 | boerse-global.de
While more than 30,000 professional photographers in Germany are set to receive a financial reprieve thanks to a new insurance classification, the broader landscape of workplace health in the country remains dominated by a troubling statistic: mental disorders now make up 16.7 percent of all days off work due to illness.
The fee relief for photographers comes from the Berufsgenossenschaft Energie Textil Elektro Medienerzeugnisse (BG ETEM), which on June 26 approved a new hazard tariff category. By shifting photography into a lower risk class, those affected can expect premium reductions of up to 30 percent. Yet this bit of good news stands in stark contrast to the persistent strain on Germany's workforce from psychological and musculoskeletal conditions.
As the article shows, mental health and physical risks demand systematic documentation. UK employers face similar duties under health & safety law. A free Risk Assessment Toolkit provides 41 ready-to-use templates and checklists to help you identify hazards, assess risks, and stay compliant with current regulations. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit
Mental illness drives disability pensions
Data presented at the 11th Prevention Forum of the National Prevention Conference on June 30 laid bare the scale of the problem: psychiatric disorders are not only the leading cause of sick days but also the reason for 42 percent of all new disability pension claims. The event, which focused on mental health at work, underscored the urgency of improving occupational medical support.
Three professional associations representing company doctors — the Verband Deutscher Betriebs- und Personalärzte (VDBW), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Arbeitsmedizin und Umweltmedizin (DGAUM), and the Bundesverband selbstständiger Arbeitsmediziner (BsAfB) — have jointly pressed for equal access to the electronic patient record (ePA). In a statement on the draft Health Digitalization Act (GeDIG), they demand a shift from the current opt-in system to an opt-out model, an extension of access duration from three to 90 days, and the inclusion of occupational health precaution data in the digital file.
The associations argue that medical confidentiality already protects patient data. But the Berufsverband Deutscher Psychologinnen und Psychologen (BDP) has expressed concern over data privacy, calling the proposed expansion of access rights problematic, according to media reports from the May 18 hearing at the Federal Ministry of Health.
Back disorders and the fight for recognition
Alongside mental illness, spinal disc diseases are on the rise. The 2026 Sick Leave Report highlights a particular increase among workers in healthcare, nursing, and care for the disabled. In late June, the Austrian Trade Union Federation (Ă–GB) called for disc-related ailments to be added to the list of recognized occupational diseases.
Yet legal hurdles remain high. The so-called “Wie-Berufskrankheiten” (quasi-occupational diseases) under Section 9 Paragraph 2 of the Social Code VII are subject to strict criteria. The Higher Social Court of North Rhine-Westphalia upheld a ruling in late June that a physiotherapist’s “frozen shoulder” did not qualify as an occupational disease, citing the condition's multifactorial causes. The court emphasized that the paragraph is not a general catch-all provision for occupationally co-caused ailments.
Digital tools with limits
Technology is gradually entering occupational safety. A synopsis published on June 30 by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) governs the use of digital media and telemedical applications. While regulations such as AMR 3.4 permit digital tools, in-person care for employees retains priority, with data protection and medical confidentiality as non-negotiable boundaries.
At the international level, a draft revision of ISO/DIS 45001:2026 — the standard for occupational health and safety management systems — was released. The updated version puts greater emphasis on organizational resilience, safety culture, and adaptation to new forms of work.
The article’s focus on legal duties and evolving standards echoes core requirements of the UK’s Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. Are you confident your business documents every obligation? A free toolkit with 9 tools — including risk assessments, checklists, and a director’s liability guide — helps you stay compliant and protect your team. Download the free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit
Meanwhile, several general legal changes take effect today, including higher pension values and the launch of a new basic income scheme that replaces the previous Bürgergeld. In healthcare, reform discussions consider cuts to certain statutory health check-ups, while new screening procedures — such as lung examinations for at-risk groups — were already introduced in the spring.
