German firms hire private detectives to investigate if sick staff are genuinely unwell
Chinese netizens express surprise at liberal sick leave rules in Germany as post Covid-19 pandemic period sees surge in absenteeism in country
German companies are hiring private detectives to investigate whether employees on long-term sick leave are genuinely ill, viewing it as an effective way to dismiss unproductive workers during economic hardship.
The practice has sparked a heated discussion on social media in China.
One such private detective agency, Lentz Group, located near Frankfurt’s main railway station, is experiencing a surge in business in this niche market, according to AFP.
Marcus Lentz, the founder of the agency, revealed that the company receives approximately 1,200 commissions annually, around double the figure of a few years earlier.
According to the federal statistics agency Destatis, German workers averaged 15.1 days of sick leave in 2023, up from 11.1 days in 2021.
This high rate of absenteeism is estimated to have reduced Germany’s GDP by 0.8 per cent in 2023, contributing to an economic contraction of 0.3 per cent.
