FDP Parliamentary Group Leader Christian Dürr has welcomed the debate initiated by Allianz CEO Oliver Bäte on the sick leave in Germany.
“The many sick leaves are, just like the relatively low number of annual working hours in Germany, only a symptom of a larger societal problem” Dürr writes in a guest article for the “Handelsblatt”. At first glance, it may seem as though a “zero-point mentality” is prevailing. However, the opposite is true.
“In Germany, an incredibly large number of highly motivated, exceptionally qualified people are waiting to finally be able to fully contribute again. It is the state’s framework conditions that, over the past decade, have made it increasingly unattractive to fully exploit one’s potential. Many rules are performance-hostile and punish engagement. It is often simpler in Germany to apply for a benefit rather than to perform a service” Dürr writes.
Bäte had addressed the striking high number of sick days of employees in Germany in the “Handelsblatt” and suggested reintroducing the unpaid leave of absence, which was abolished in the 1970s. Dürr calls this debate important. “Never in history and nowhere in the world has a society been able to preserve its prosperity by working less. Prosperity is based on effort and the willingness to take entrepreneurial risks” Dürr says.