Sickness absence due to Covid test obligations in the workplace

Arbeitspapier

As vaccines for Covid-19 became available, in 2021 many countries introduced an obligation for employees to provide proof of their Covid status in the workplace, in Germany also known as the 3G rule (vaccinated, recovered, tested). In view of the controversial debate, concerns arose that employees might attempt to circumvent this obligation by taking sick leave. For an empirical panel analysis we combine data from health insurance providers with epidemiological data for the German federal states. In fact, our findings do show that - while controlling for infection rates - a one percentage-point lower vaccination rate led to an increase in the sickness absence rate by 0.021 percentage points when the 3G rule came into effect.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IAB-Discussion Paper ; No. 7/2022

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Crisis Management ; Health: General ; Labor Standards: Working Conditions
• Subject: Covid-status certification ; Covid-19 ; Sick leave ; Workplace

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Wanger, Susanne ; Weber, Enzo
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB)
• (where): Nürnberg
• (when): 2022

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.48720/IAB.DP.2207
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/262187
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET