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Why do Germans take so much time off sick?
Business Daily
Feb 4, 2025

The country’s sick leave policy is one of the most generous in the world.

Employees get full pay for the first six weeks they’re off, after that their health insurance policy will pay them a large portion of their salary for a further 18 months.

This means the culture around taking sick leave is different to other countries, and the average worker takes 20 days off sick each year.

We find out why, and look at the impact on business and the German economy.

Produced and presented by Hannah Mullane

(Image: German commuters on bikes at a junction. Credit: Getty Images)

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Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

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(Picture: Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment, sitting in front of some dolls. Credit: MGA Entertainment)


17min 28sec




Why do Germans take so much time off sick?

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