Disease day debate: Bate wants to save money-employees in need!

Allianz boss Oliver Bäte called for the reintroduction of maternity leave in a current debate about high sick leave in Germany. The maternity leave, which was abolished in the 1970s, could, according to Bäte, help to save employers 40 billion euros annually. The proposal stipulates that workers receive no wages on the first day of a sick report.

Currently on sick leave in Germany will continue to receive their salary from the first day. According to Bäte, this means that employees are sick on average 20 days a year, while the EU average is eight days. Employers pay 77 billion euros annually for the salaries of sick employees. Statistical constellations show that workers in 2023 were disregarded an average of 15.1 working days, as evidenced by DAK health, which reports an average of 20 shortage per capita.

reactions and resistance

The reaction to Bäte's proposal is very controversial. Unions, in particular the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), criticize the proposal as unjust and warn of the phenomenon of "presentism", in which employees appear to work despite illness. DGB board member Anja Piel emphasizes that many employees come to work in a state of health, even if they are not fit.

Additional voices come from the economy: Tobias Stüber from the startup industry rejects unpaid days of illness and calls for a better corporate policy. In contrast, social expert Bernd Raffelhüschen supports the idea of an unpaid day of the sick and even suggests granting three days without wages. Mercedes boss Ola Källenius also sees the high level of sick leave as a problem for companies.

political reactions are mixed. Union Group Vice Sepp Müller (CDU) supports a discussion about new ideas, while Tino Sorge (CDU) demands a "sick leave summit" for advice on the situation. In contrast, Dennis Radtke (CDU) describes Bäte's proposal as unacceptable and as an expression of distrust of employees.

The discussion about continued wages in the event of illness raises important questions about the balance between employer interests and the protection of employee rights. This topic remains the focus of the public debate and could have far -reaching effects on German labor law.