In the ongoing debate about sick leave in Germany, Jens Baas, chairman of the board at Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), has urged employers to assume more responsibility for their employees’ health.
Baas explained to the „Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that long‑term illnesses such as depression or burnout are frequently connected to workplace satisfaction and the stresses employees face. “Employers can play a decisive role in the well‑being of their staff” he said, adding that firms could substantially lower the risk of ill health by improving working conditions.
He also criticized the federal government’s plan to review the possibility of remote or telephone sickness certifications. “The debate over telephone sickness certificates puts the wrong focus on the issue and distracts from the real problem” Baas argued. “Short‑term illnesses-like common colds that can be confirmed by a telephone appointment-make up a much smaller share of total absentee days compared with long‑term conditions”.
According to TK data, in 2024 about 38 % of all sickness reports were for periods of fewer than four days, yet represented only 6.9 % of all absentee days. In contrast, the few sick reports lasting more than six weeks-about 3.5 % of all notifications-accounted for roughly 45 % of total absenteeism.
