Berlin, May 2, 2026 – New data from Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) reveals a slight decrease in employee absenteeism during the first quarter of 2026, despite a cold snap at the beginning of the year. The figures, reported by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland,” indicate a positive trend in workforce health.
Average Sick Days Decline
On average, each employed person insured with TK was on sick leave for 5.00 days between January and March of this year. This marks a reduction from 5.35 days in the same period of 2025 and 5.16 days in 2024.
Jens Baas, head of TK, stated that despite the cold spell, the cold season appears to have been milder compared to previous years. The primary reason for sick leave continues to be cold-related diagnoses such as flu, sniffles, or coronavirus infections.
Cold-Related Illnesses See Significant Drop
In 2026, each TK-insured employed person was, on average, sick for 1.32 days due to a cold diagnosis in the first quarter. This is a notable decrease from 1.79 days in 2025 and 1.51 days in 2024, suggesting a less severe impact from seasonal respiratory illnesses.
Rise in Psychological Diagnoses
Conversely, there was a renewed increase in psychological diagnoses, such as depression or anxiety disorders, averaging 0.99 days of absence per employed person. This figure was 0.92 days in both 2025 and 2024, indicating a growing concern in this area.
Musculoskeletal system diseases, such as back pain, ranked third with an average of 0.65 days of absence. This is a slight increase from 0.63 days in 2025, though still below the 0.67 days recorded in 2024.
Techniker Krankenkasse: A Key Indicator
Techniker Krankenkasse is Germany’s largest statutory health insurance fund, with over twelve million insured individuals, including 6.2 million employed persons. Its data provides a significant insight into the health trends of the German workforce.
The overall decline in sick days, particularly for cold-related illnesses, is a positive development for employers and the economy. However, the increase in psychological diagnoses highlights an area that may require further attention and support for employees.
This report from TK offers a comprehensive overview of the health landscape in the first quarter of 2026, providing valuable information for public health initiatives and workplace wellness programs.
Source: https://www.berlinstory.de/news/krankenstand-im-ersten-quartal-leicht-gegenueber-vorjahr-gesunken/
