Requesting leave from your employer can be daunting, often met with hesitation or negotiation. However, in Germany, an unsettling trend has emerged—companies are allegedly spying on employees who take sick leave.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, German firms are increasingly alarmed by the rising number of employees taking prolonged sick leaves. In some cases, individuals have reportedly taken between 40 to 100 days off, citing health issues.
Data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveals that German workers missed an average of 6.8% of their working hours in 2023 due to illness. This figure surpasses the averages of other European Union countries like France, Italy, and Spain. The situation is particularly burdensome for German companies already grappling with a manufacturing slowdown and reduced export demand.
In response, some companies are questioning the legitimacy of sick leave claims. To verify these, they are reportedly hiring private detective agencies to investigate employees suspected of faking illnesses.
Private investigator Marcus Lentz shared with AFP that his agency has seen a record surge in requests from companies seeking to confirm whether employees on sick leave are genuinely unwell or feigning illness.
While the fees charged by these agencies remain undisclosed, it is known that they require a substantial payment to initiate investigations. This practice has sparked significant privacy concerns among Germans, as many view such measures as an invasion of employee rights.
