Mental Illness Overtakes Respiratory Ailments as Top Cause of Sick Leave in Germany
Published on 07/21/2026 at 12:02 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A snapshot of Germany’s working population reveals a dramatic shift in health trends. An analysis by the DAK health insurance fund, covering 2.2 million insured individuals, found that in the first half of 2026 the overall sickness absence rate stood at 53 per 1,000 employees — a negligible 0.1-percentage-point drop. More striking, however, is the change in what drives people off the job. Mental health conditions have now overtaken respiratory diseases as the most common reason for sick leave, rising by nine percent compared to the previous period. On average, workers were off duty for 9.7 days, up slightly from 9.5 days.
The data arrives amid growing attention to other health hazards, both acute and long-term. In Reichenbach an der Fils, emergency crews were called to a rental truck on Tuesday after discovering liquid mercury in its cargo area. The toxic substance, covering a patch roughly two by two centimetres, sent eight people to hospital as a precaution. Firefighters in specialised protective suits secured the metal, while several nearby residential units were evacuated. Police reported no injuries and said the mercury’s origin remains unknown.
The mercury discovered in Reichenbach and the chemical leak in Dannenberg show how quickly hazardous substances can create emergencies. For businesses, such incidents underscore the importance of thorough risk assessments. A free COSHH Risk Assessment Toolkit offers 43 ready-to-use templates and checklists to help you identify and control dangerous materials, ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Download the free COSHH Toolkit
A day earlier, a chemical release in Dannenberg saw 16 tonnes of an unidentified substance leak from a facility. That incident ended without injuries by early Monday morning, but it underscores ongoing risks in hazardous-material transport and storage.
On the regulatory front, Europe is moving to eliminate a common medical source of mercury exposure. Starting 1 January 2025, a European Union law will largely prohibit the use of dental amalgam — a mercury-based filling material that has been a staple in dentistry for decades. Christoph Benz, president of the German Dental Association, stated earlier this year that adequate substitutes are already available. Glass-ionomer cement and special composite resins will replace amalgam, and health insurers will cover the costs without additional charges for patients.
Beyond immediate health risks, the debate is widening into financial security. On Monday, Swiss insurer Groupe Mutuel launched ProtectLife, a savings model that combines tax-advantaged contributions with lump-sum benefits for serious illnesses. Meanwhile, professional bodies including the German Association of Actuaries (DAV) and the IVS are calling for clearer rules in occupational pensions. The pension commission has recommended a net replacement rate of 70 percent across all three pillars — a target that, according to DAV chair Susanna Adelhardt, can only be reached with a standardised data infrastructure. She voiced support for the capital-based pension approach but warned of “existing implementation risks.”
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