Sick employees partly to blame for crisis according to Mercedes boss

Are sick notes too easy in Germany? Ola Källenius says yes!

Kallenius Mercedes

By: Christopher Otto

Published by: Brian Potter

Dec 20, 2024 at 4:13am ET

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In a recent interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz, who has come under pressure, discussed the high sickness rate in Germany and blamed it for the current crisis. He criticised the fact that it is too easy to call in sick in Germany and called for stricter controls and reforms to reduce the high sickness rate in German factories.

Källenius emphasised that the sickness rate in Germany was disproportionately high compared to other countries. "This is also the case in our German plants," said the CEO of Mercedes-Benz. "Our plants are the same all over the world, there are the same health benefits, the same working environment. And yet the sickness rate in Germany is sometimes more than twice as high," he said.

Ola Källenius and Mercedes EQS (Image source: https://media.daimler.com/marsMediaSite/de/instance/ko.xhtml?oid=48613391

For him, this discrepancy is a clear sign that the sickness absence system in Germany needs to be reconsidered. If these figures are correct - which we were unable to verify due to a lack of data - this really does not reflect well on Germany as an industrial centre.

The Mercedes boss went on to say that the high sickness rate was not only a problem for companies, but also for the economy as a whole. "Those who take unjustified sick leave are not showing solidarity," explained Källenius. The current practice of sick leave invites abuse and thus impairs the productivity and competitiveness of the German economy.

Källenius is apparently referring to the regulation in place since the coronavirus pandemic that allows sick notes to be obtained by telephone without a doctor's appointment. This regulation has already been criticised by several bodies.

Mercedes-Benz production plant

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

Källenius therefore called for political measures to reform the system. "It must not be so easy to call in sick," he emphasised. He suggested that stricter checks and controls should be introduced to ensure that only those who are genuinely ill receive a sick note. These measures are necessary to prevent abuse and strengthen solidarity among employees.

In his interview, Källenius also pointed out that companies themselves only have limited options for reducing sickness rates. "I sit down with our company doctor in charge once a year. Then I ask him: What can we do to improve this? He always says: Nothing beyond what we're already doing," he reported. This makes it clear that the problem needs to be solved at a political level.

Mercedes-Benz production plant

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

Källenius' comments have triggered a broad debate. While some support his calls for stricter controls, others see them as a threat to workers' rights. Critics argue that stricter checks and inspections could lead to a deterioration in the working atmosphere and that the causes of the high sickness rate are underlying problems such as high workloads and stress.

Despite the controversy, Källenius is sticking to his position. He believes that a reform of the sickness absence system is necessary to ensure the competitiveness of the German economy. "The new government must hold up a mirror to Germany. And it must look with great honesty at what is going well and what is not. And then it must also be prepared to make unpopular decisions," he demanded.