Tuesday, June 3
Why is everyone in Berlin so sick this year?
The statistics are in, and they show that staff are out sick in record numbers. The first three months of 2025 have seen a significant spike in employee sick days across both Berlin and Brandenburg, according to data from the DAK health insurance company. The main causes are bronchitis, influenza, among other respiratory illnesses.
In Berlin, there were 156 days of absence recorded per 100 employees—a 33% increase on the same period last year. In Brandenburg, the number was even higher, at 199 days per 100 employees.
According to the Robert Koch Institute, the figures were influenced by a severe flu wave that swept the country at the beginning of the year. In general, significantly more people are suffering from acute respiratory illnesses in 2025.
Respiratory illnesses including bronchitis and influenza were the leading cause of sick leave in Berlin, followed by mental illnesses such as depression. Musculoskeletal problems, such as back pain, came in third.
