As Mental Illness Claims Soar, German Employers Face New Pressure on Prevention Programs
Published on 06/24/2026 at 09:23 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The Zurich Ă–sterreich insurance group won the BGF-Preis 2026 for a health management system that tackles physical, mental and social wellbeing together. The award comes amid growing alarm over the toll psychological disorders are taking on the German workforce.
Experts gathered at the 11th Prevention Forum in Berlin on Tuesday to discuss how companies can push back. The numbers are stark: in 2024, mental health conditions already accounted for 16.7 percent of all sick days. Even more dramatic is their role in pushing people out of work early. Around 42 percent of disability pensions now stem from psychological causes.
A comprehensive health management system must address physical, mental, and social wellbeing — and that includes having the right documentation in place. Many UK employers struggle to keep their risk assessments current, leaving them exposed to penalties. The free Health & Safety Toolkit provides ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists, and toolbox talks covering the Health & Safety at Work Act, COSHH, and more. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
Digitalization plays a double role in the crisis. It enables flexible working arrangements but also acts as a risk factor for mental health. Without proactive prevention strategies, employers face extended employee absences. That is pushing the legally mandated company reintegration management process — known as BEM — into the spotlight.
The German Pension Insurance North offers a free company service for businesses in Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein. It advises on prevention programs such as “RV Fit” and provides help with rehabilitation and social-law questions.
At the same time, HR professionals are upskilling. On Tuesday, the Hameln Chamber of Industry and Commerce ran a seminar on the legal and organisational basics of BEM for managers and works councils. And on Monday, a themed day in Hannover showed how modular qualifications can gradually bring employees back to full working capacity.
BEM implementation is tightly linked to employment law. For severely disabled workers or those with equivalent status, the integration office must approve any summary dismissal. The deadlines are strict: the employer’s application must be submitted within two weeks of learning the grounds for dismissal. The office also has two weeks to decide. If no response comes, approval is deemed granted.
Just as German employers navigate strict legal deadlines for dismissal, UK employers face their own compliance obligations under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. Without proper documentation, companies risk fines and liability. The free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit includes nine tools — risk assessments, checklists, and a director liability guide — to help you stay compliant. Download the free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit
Several institutions are hiring specialists to manage the growing demand. Fulda University of Applied Sciences runs a structured BEM procedure for staff who have been on sick leave for longer than six weeks in the previous twelve months. Dedicated contact persons coordinate the process.
The Hanseatic City of LĂĽbeck is looking for a BEM specialist, with applications due by 14 July 2026. The University Hospital MĂĽnster has posted a permanent advisor position to ensure support for its roughly 13,000 employees.
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