Healthcare Absenteeism in Brandenburg Remains High - Brandenburg’s workers missed 23 days last year—why is illness soaring?
Brandenburg recorded the second-highest disease absence rate in Germany last year. Employees in the state took an average of 23 days off due to illness in 2023. This figure sits well above the national average of 19.5 days per worker.
Respiratory illnesses were the main reason for sick leave in Brandenburg. For every 100 insured employees, these conditions caused around 464 lost working days. Musculoskeletal disorders and mental health issues followed as the second and third most common causes.
On any given day, roughly 6.3% of the workforce was absent due to illness. Each sick leave case lasted just under 11 days on average. Anke Grubitz, DAK’s regional head in Brandenburg, stressed the need for further research into why absence rates remain so high. Saxony-Anhalt had the highest sickness rate in the country, with Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania close behind. No detailed company-level data has been made public, but seasonal illnesses, mental health struggles, and lingering post-pandemic effects are often cited as contributing factors.
The 2023 figures highlight Brandenburg’s ongoing challenge with workplace absences. With respiratory illnesses leading the way, the state’s rate remains significantly above Germany’s average. Officials continue to call for deeper analysis into the root causes.
