Krankmeldung: Wie sich Arbeitgeber gegen Blaumacher wehren können

In recent months, Germany's absenteeism rate has slightly declined, according to data from the Techniker Krankenkasse. However, the total number of sick days taken by employees remains high. Between January and November 2025, German workers missed an average of 18.6 days due to illness, compared to just 13 days annually in 2021.

The question remains, though, how many of these absences are genuine and how many are instances of "bluewashing" – claiming to be ill when they are actually fit to work. While nobody knows the exact figure, there are indications: A survey by the opinion research institute Yougov last year found that more than one in four people have falsified their sick leave at least once.

A recent study by the Pronova BKK health insurance company revealed that 60% of employees have claimed to be ill when they were actually capable of working. Seven percent do this "frequently," and for roughly half of those surveyed, it happens "sometimes" or "rarely." When an employee takes repeated sick leave despite being physically capable of working, their employer cannot simply accept it.

Two labor law specialists explain the legal options employers have against such "sick feigner" employees.