A survey commissioned by the DAK health insurance and conducted by Forsa indicates that nearly half of employees in Germany are planning to leave the workforce early. The findings, reported by the “Tagesspiegel”, show that 44 percent of respondents intend to retire before the statutory age, while 35 percent plan to work until reaching that age, and nine percent plan to continue working even afterwards. Notably, this tendency is even stronger among those over 50, where 52 percent wish to retire early.
These survey results are being released against the backdrop of upcoming proposals from the Pension Commission, which plans to advise the federal government on various issues, including recommending against the option of retiring at 63. Furthermore, data from DAK suggests that advancing the retirement age could place significant strain on the health of many people. According to a DAK health report, the average sick leave rate for employees aged 66 is eleven percent-roughly double the five-point-eight percent observed among 50-year-olds. An eleven percent sick leave rate means that, on average, eleven out of every 100 workers are absent due to illness each day.
DAK CEO Andreas Storm told the “Tagesspiegel” that these figures highlight the necessity for immediate action. He argued that a sustainable corporate health management approach, supported by a company culture that values the experience of older employees, is the key to enabling a longer working life. Storm added that given the demographic shift, companies can no longer afford to lose the skills and competencies held by their older staff.
