"Germany's Sick Leave Crisis: Gen Z Blamed for Economic Strain"

German bosses are pointing fingers at the younger generation for the country's economic struggles, with some blaming 'work-shy' Gen Z employees for calling in sick nearly 20 times a year. According to a study by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), the country's economy would have grown by 0.5% instead of contracting last year if illness rates were lower.

The DIW study, which was published in February, estimated that around 1.5 million employees in Germany were absent from work due to illness in 2021, costing the economy around €10 billion. The researchers found that the majority of these absences were due to mental health issues, with stress and burnout being the most common causes.

German employers have been vocal about the impact of sick leave on their businesses, with some reporting that they are struggling to fill vacancies due to the high number of employees calling in sick. A survey by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) found that 40% of companies in the country had difficulty finding suitable candidates for open positions, with many citing health-related absences as a contributing factor.

The German government has also expressed concern about the high levels of sick leave in the country. In a statement released in March, the Federal Ministry of Health said that it was "concerned about the high number of sick days taken by employees in Germany" and that it was "working on measures to reduce the burden on employers and improve the health of employees."

The ministry has proposed a number of measures to tackle the issue, including the introduction of a "health bonus" for employees who take steps to improve their health and well-being, as well as the expansion of mental health services in the workplace.

However, some experts have criticized the government's approach, arguing that it is too focused on individual responsibility and not enough on systemic issues. "The government needs to do more to address the root causes of stress and burnout in the workplace," said Dr. Ingo Zettler, a psychologist at the University of Hamburg. "This means looking at things like workload, job design, and work-life balance, as well as providing better support for employees who are struggling with mental health issues."

Despite the criticism, the German government has shown no signs of backing down from its approach to tackling sick leave. In a statement released in April, the Federal Ministry of Health