Ex-Trigema boss Grupp: Doctors are to blame for high levels of sickness reports!

Ex-Trigema boss Grupp: Doctors are to blame for high levels of sickness reports!

Wolfgang Grupp, the former CEO of the textile company Trigema, sharply criticizes the high levels of illness in Germany and also blames treating doctors for the situation. He explains that in the healthcare system there are “doctors who use sick leave for no reason.” His concerns are not unfounded, because the economic consequences of sickness-related absences are enormous: in 2024, companies in Germany had to raise around 77 billion euros for continued wage payments due to illness. For comparison, citizens' money was estimated at 24 billion euros in the same year.

On average, German workers were absent a total of 14.8 days in 2024, while the figures for 2023 are comparable at 15.1 days. Germany is therefore in the upper middle range in a European comparison, while employees in Baden-Württemberg, where Trigema is based, reported sick less often than in other federal states. Here, the DAK health insurance company points to a decline in sick leave in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year.

Systematic grievances and financial consequences

Wolfgang Grupp has “never done anything wrong” in his professional career and is confronted with demands that employers introduce financial consequences for absences due to illness. To this end, he suggests that employees only receive 80% of their salary in the event of illness. This measure is intended to promote responsible behavior and prevent abuse.

His critical attitude is also reflected in his personal approach: in individual cases, Grupp wrote letters to his employees' doctors to express his concerns about repeated sick leave. From Grupps's point of view, the practice of doctors who often take entire weeks on sick leave could be a strategic decision to avoid staff shortages.

Trigema relies on incentives

However, Trigema has also introduced measures to reduce sick leave. Employees who do not call in sick for a period of two months receive a fuel voucher worth 50 euros. This regulation has meant that sickness reports at Trigema are below the national average.

In summary, Wolfgang Grupp's ideas and measures are causing both controversy and reflection in the debate about disease levels and the healthcare system in Germany. The questions about sensible sick leave and fair remuneration in the event of illness remain current and will certainly continue to be an issue in the future.

Further information can be found in the articles from t online and Swabian to find.