Sick leave surge hits Germany spurs demand for private detectives

Rising sick leave rates are putting pressure on German companies already struggling with economic woes. But for private detective Marcus Lentz, the trend has been a windfall.

Lentz says his agency has seen record demand, with companies increasingly seeking help to investigate employees suspected of faking illnesses.

"There are just more and more companies that don’t want to put up with it anymore," Lentz told AFP. His firm, Lentz Group, now handles up to 1,200 such cases annually, double the number from a few years ago.

From auto titans to fertiliser producers, companies are ringing the alarm about the impact of high rates of sick leave on Europe's biggest economy.AFP

"If someone has 30, 40, or up to 100 sick days in a year, they become economically unattractive for the employer," he said.

Companies across industries, from automakers to fertilizer producers, are sounding the alarm. Some say new sick leave reporting methods are being exploited, but experts argue the causes are more nuanced, ranging from workplace stress to rising mental health issues.

The federal statistics agency reported an average of 15.1 sick days per worker in 2022, up from 11.1 in 2021. This year, the figure hit a record high of 14.13 days in the first nine months, according to insurer TK.

Economic analysts warn the trend is hitting productivity. Higher absenteeism shaved 0.8% off Germany’s economic output in 2023, according to pharmaceutical economist Claus Michelsen, contributing to a 0.3% GDP contraction.

Corporate leaders are raising concerns. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius said Germany’s absenteeism is “twice as high as in other European countries.”

Some firms are going further. Tesla reportedly sent managers to check on workers on sick leave at its German factory.

Critics blame policies allowing sick notes over the phone, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Industry groups are now calling for the system to be scrapped.

Lentz said many cases he investigates involve employees working side jobs or handling personal projects while on sick leave.

One worker, he said, helped with his wife’s business. Others used time off to renovate homes. “At some point, companies say, ‘out they go,’” Lentz said.

But experts say there are legitimate factors behind the increase. The Hans Boeckler Foundation, linked to German trade unions, warned against blaming workers.

“Blaming workers obscures the real causes,” said Bettina Kohlrausch, WSI’s scientific director, citing stressful conditions and more frequent illnesses.

While companies push for reforms, the rising sick leave trend remains a challenge for Germany’s economy and workforce.