Germany news: Sick leave wage bill doubles in 15 years
German firms paid out a record €86 billion in wages to employees on sick leave last year, according to new research. Meanwhile, dozens of firefighters tackled a blaze at a refugee home in Berlin overnight. DW has more.
German firms paid a record €85.6 billion in wages for sick and maternity leave in 2022, more than doubling the €36.9 billion paid in 2010, according to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW). The increase can be attributed to wage hikes, inflation in employee costs, and a growing number of employed people. Additionally, sick leave has risen since Germany adopted electronic medical certificates in 2022, with workers now taking an average of 19.5 working days per year.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government plans to ban sick notes obtained by phone, and the state premier of Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies, urges finding a viable restructuring plan for Volkswagen, which faces cost issues, falling demand, and intense competition from China. A recent poll shows that 67% of Germans believe the United States has more influence on Germany since Trump's return to power, while only 11% think the US influence has decreased.
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