Jul 9, 2026 – 4.53pmDespite Australians being labelled the lazy beneficiaries of the lucky country, the news that workers in Germany will be forced to present to a doctor when taking sick leave appears to highlight our comparatively stoic work ethic.On average, German workers take 15.5 days (3.5 weeks) of sick leave a year. By contrast, Australians take an average of just 7.3 days (about 1.5 weeks) each.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
Germany is cracking down on sick leave. Should we do the same here?
With the European country set to implement stricter requirements due to high absenteeism, what should we make of Australia’s comparatively low leave uptake?
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