GERMANY - Businesses Seek to Cut Sick Pay
When the Federal Statistical Office reported in January, that the average number of sick days taken by workers in Germany was 15.1 in 2023, many businesses suggested that this was because people were skiving off work.
Germany is now the “world champion when it comes to sick days,” said Oliver Bäte, CEO of the Allianz insurance group.
Klaus Reinhardt, president of the German Medical Association, sees increased infections as the main reason for the record number of sick people. “Playing sick does not happen on a large scale,” he said. Since the coronavirus pandemic, more people in general have been taking sick leave because of infectious diseases. During the two or three years of lockdown and infection prevention, preventing infection has taken on a different meaning.”
“There is absolutely no basis for concluding that the high rate of sickness is linked to the ability to call in sick by telephone,” said Markus Beier, federal chairman of Germany’s association of general practitioners. “After all, this is only possible for people who are a registered patient in the practice they are calling, where their medical history is known. We are not seeing any significant levels of misuse.”
Spain and Greece don’t allow workers to collect sick pay on the first day of symptoms. Countries such as the USA, Canada, Japan, and South Korea do not have any universal sick pay. However, it is highly unlikely that Germany, which was one of the first countries in the world to introduce universal sick pay in 1884, will try to touch such a controversial topic. The law guarantees 100% of income for up to six weeks from the first day of illness.
-www.dw.com, 11 January 2025
Arno's Commentary
A Google search reveals: “In Germany, employees are entitled to receive full pay from their employer for up to six weeks when on sick leave, meaning they are guaranteed 100% of their income during this period, which is considered one of the most generous paid sick leave policies globally.”
But there is more; paid holidays (vacation) add another 30 days. When viewed from the United States’ perspective, it sounds rather strange if not impossible. One may rightly ask, when do they work? According to the CIA Factbook, German exports stand at $2.1 trillion, with imports of only $1.9 trillion. This is a clear sign of success.
As far as health is concerned, life expectancy for 2024 is 81.9 years.
What does the Bible say? “Six days thou shalt work.” While this is particularly addressed to people whom the Lord brought out of Egypt, it is the accepted norm more or less globally. Humans are encouraged to work: “Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening” (Psalm 104:23).
This solid Biblical advice is being put aside. In Belgium, for example, followed by Denmark and the Netherlands, the 4-day workweek is being tested. Where will it lead? More comfort, more leisure time.
What we learn from these modern developments is that mankind, in the industrialized world especially, is increasing his life expectancy and enjoying his “freedom.” Here we are reminded of the Laodicean church—which apparently became rich—who in their comfort and luxury exclaimed: “…I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17a).
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
