Sick Days in Rhineland-Palatinate Above National Average - Mental Health Awareness Drives Record Sick Leave Surge in Rhineland-Palatinate
Sick leave due to mental health awareness issues has surged in Rhineland-Palatinate over the past five years. New figures from Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) reveal a sharp rise in absences linked to psychological conditions. The trend shows no signs of slowing, with employees now taking more time off than ever before for such reasons.
In 2020, TK-insured workers in the region missed around 1.2 million days because of mental health awareness problems. By 2024, that number had more than doubled, reaching over 2.5 million days. The peak came in 2022, when absences hit nearly 2.8 million days—an increase of more than 100% compared to 2020.
On average, each employee took 3.9 days off for psychological reasons in 2025. Overall, workers in Rhineland-Palatinate were absent for 19.6 days last year, slightly above the national average of 18.6 days.
Despite the rise in mental health awareness-related leave, respiratory infections remained the leading cause of sickness absence. These illnesses accounted for roughly 4.1 days per worker in 2025. Together, mental health awareness conditions and respiratory diseases now represent the two biggest drivers of lost workdays in the region.
The data highlights a growing burden on both employees and employers in Rhineland-Palatinate. Mental health awareness absences have risen dramatically since 2020, while respiratory infections continue to cause the most sick days. The figures suggest a need for targeted support in both areas to address the increasing strain on the workforce.
