Germany has witnessed a notable increase in the number of companies incentivizing employees who maintain regular attendance and avoid taking sick leave.

This initiative comes in response to the substantial costs associated with absenteeism, which reached nearly €77 billion in 2023, primarily covering salaries during employee illness.

One prominent example is Tesla, which offers a €1,000 annual bonus to employees who achieve 'gold status,' characterized by minimal absenteeism.

According to health fund data, the average number of sick days taken in Germany ranges from 19 to 25 per year.

A variety of firms across Germany have introduced attendance bonuses to mitigate the financial impact of sick leave.

For instance, KVG, a transportation company in Kiel, awards employees without sick leave a bonus of up to €250 monthly.

Meanwhile, I-SEC, a company operating at Frankfurt Airport, provides a daily bonus of €2.50 for attendance.

Hochbahn in Hamburg grants €615 every six months under specific conditions, and Zurheide Feine Kost complements its attendance bonus with additional paid vacation.

Notably, Mercedes-Benz had previously implemented a similar attendance bonus system but discontinued it in 2019 without providing further explanation.

However, experts have raised concerns that these attendance incentives may inadvertently motivate employees to come to work while unwell, potentially jeopardizing their health and that of their colleagues.

They suggest that companies should prioritize employee recovery and well-being rather than attendance metrics.