Despite a cold snap at the beginning of the year, the number of sick days taken by employees during the first quarter has shown a slight decrease. According to figures provided by the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) and reported by “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” the average sick leave for every employee insured by the TK between January and March of this year was 5.00 days. This marks a notable improvement compared to 5.35 days recorded in the previous year (2025) and 5.16 days in 2024.
TK management noted to newspapers that the common cold season appears to have been milder than in the years prior, even with the cold weather. The primary causes of absence remain cold-related illnesses, such as flu, runny nose, or COVID-19. Focusing on these diagnoses alone, the average sick leave for Q1 was 1.32 days this year, down from 1.79 days in 2025 and 1.51 days in 2024.
In contrast, absences attributed to mental health diagnoses, such as depression or anxiety disorders, saw an increase, averaging 0.99 missed days per employee. This figure is higher than both 2025 (0.92 days) and 2024 (0.92 days). Third in frequency were musculoskeletal ailments, such as back pain, with an average of 0.65 missed days. This represents a decrease from 0.67 days in 2024, though a slight increase from 0.63 days recorded in 2025.
The Techniker Krankenkasse itself is the largest statutory health insurance provider in Germany, covering over twelve million insured members, of whom approximately 6.2 million are active employees.
