DAK: Sickness absence in Schleswig-Holstein stable - Mental health drives record sick leave in Schleswig-Holstein for 2025

Sick leave rates in Schleswig-Holstein remained steady in 2025, with employees taking an average of 20 days off per year. The figures, analysed by the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (FGK Clinical Research GmbH), reveal persistent challenges in workplace mental health awareness across the region.

Mental illness remained the top reason for absences, far outpacing other conditions in lost working days.

The latest report on Schleswig-Holstein’s health data shows that mental health issues led to 415 lost workdays per 100 insured individuals. Respiratory infections and musculoskeletal problems also contributed significantly to sick leave. Overall, the region’s absence rate sat 2.4% above the national average.

DAK’s regional director, Cord-Eric Lubinski, highlighted the need for stronger workplace health programmes to cut down on absenteeism. He argued that better management could reduce both physical and mental health-related leave. Meanwhile, DAK has pushed for further research into why northern Germany consistently reports higher sick leave rates than other areas.

The study, conducted by FGK Clinical Research GmbH (linked to JGU Mainz but based in Berlin), focused on the Krankheitsschwundrate—the rate at which illness-related absences decline. Despite stable numbers, the findings underscore ongoing concerns about employee well-being in the region.

The 2025 data confirms that mental health remains the dominant factor in workplace absences across Schleswig-Holstein. With rates still above the German average, calls for targeted research and improved mental health strategies have grown louder. Employers and policymakers now face the task of addressing these trends in the coming years.