FM newsroom – cleaning, Germany. Germany’s cleaning sector faces mounting challenges as absenteeism rates surge, driven by the reintroduction of telephone sick leave. With over 70% of companies reporting higher sickness rates, industry leaders call for urgent changes.
In Germany, the Association of Contract Cleaners (BIV) presented the results of its autumn economic survey. The summary of the data received from more than 400 respondent companies clearly shows the general mood of the sector, along with forecasts and expectations. According to the European Cleaning Journal, telephone sick leave was a particularly prominent topic in the survey based on Katja Scholz’s report.
Declining Business Expectations for 2025
Similar to the spring, the autumn forecast does not paint an optimistic picture: only 18.5 percent of the participating companies, even fewer than in the spring, are looking forward to 2025 with positive business expectations, 43.4 percent consider their business to be unchanged, and barely 38 percent have a negative outlook for the future. In the survey, most companies strongly criticized the telephone sick leave option, which has been possible again in Germany.
Telephone Sick Leave System
Since December 2023, employees in Germany can again obtain sick leave certification by simply calling the doctor’s practice. The medical certificate is for a maximum of 5 days but only for minor illnesses like colds. Patients must have previously visited the practice in person; video consultations are not allowed. An extension by telephone is possible only if the initial certificate was issued after a personal medical examination; otherwise, an in-person visit is required.
A Call for Change
In the recent period, more than 70 percent of the companies surveyed have seen their sickness rate increase, while only 30 percent have remained the same. A third of the companies concerned even claim that their sickness rate due to telephone sick leave has increased by up to 10 percent in the current year.
“The telephone sick leave made sense during the pandemic, but it is now a clear disadvantage for our companies. The federal government is right to review this tool in the context of its growth initiative – but for us, there is only one correct conclusion: abolition,” said Thomas Dietrich, master of the Federal Guild.
A clear majority of the companies surveyed, 81.4 percent, agree with this and urges action on the matter.
Rising Costs and Political Concerns Add to Pressure
Political interference with the right to independent collective bargaining ranked at the top of the scale of concerns (from 1 to 10) with a score of 8.5, especially with regard to statutory minimum wage requirements. This was closely followed by a surge in the costs of the social security system, especially in the areas of health and pension insurance.