Germans call in sick more than 20 days per year on average, much more than workers in other EU countries.
Without the increase in sick days, the German economy could have grown by around 0.5% in 2023, instead of retracting by 0.3%, a study by pharma industry association vfa estimated last year.
Also, being sick is not being lazy.
According to most employers and politicians, (who, surely by sheer coincidence, have never done any honest work in their life) it is.