Calling in sick from work is not just a one-off episode in Europe. It’s now become a widespread trend among employees, making the “sick man” monicker that’s chased European economies all too real.
Take France, for instance. The number of people taking sick leave has risen so sharply in recent years that it has figured into the French budget as an economic issue with a billion-euro price tag. German employees take over 19 days off due to illness, marking a record high when the economy is riddled with challenges. It’s costing the economy €200 billion annually, or the equivalent of 4.5% of the German GDP.
