IW-Studie: Unternehmen zahlen Rekordsumme für kranke Beschäftigte
Mehr als 85 Milliarden Euro: Noch nie mussten Firmen so viel für krankheitsbedingte Lohnfortzahlung zahlen. Was steckt hinter dem Anstieg?
German companies spent record amounts on wage continuation for sick employees in 2025, totaling 85.6 billion euros, according to a study by the employer-affiliated Institute of the German Economy (IW). This marks a more than doubling of nominal costs for wage continuation over the past 15 years. In 2024, the costs were 81.2 billion euros.
The total includes both the 72.5 billion euros in gross wages reported by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and the IW's estimated employer contributions to social insurance, which amounted to 13.1 billion euros.
The institute attributes the rise in costs to several factors, including higher wages, increased employment, and higher sickness absenteeism. The introduction of electronic reporting of work disability certificates in 2022 has led to a statistically significant increase in sickness absence. However, it remains unclear whether actual workplace absenteeism has also increased.
The institute cautiously views the planned statutory requirement for an attestation on the first day of sickness, citing potential administrative burdens and possible strain on the relationship between employees and employers.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
