Parents often have different approaches when caring for sick children, with mothers more frequently taking on the role of caregiver at home compared to fathers.
In Germany, a significant imbalance has been observed in the number of sick leave days taken for children between mothers and fathers, according to data from Barmer, one of the country's largest health insurance companies.
In 2023, Barmer registered a total of 890,000 paid sick leave days for children, with 663,000 for women and 227,000 for men. This difference in applications was approximately 2 times as high, reflecting a persistent unequal distribution of family care responsibility.
Christoph Straub, CEO of Barmer, stated that this disparity mirrors the long-standing unequal distribution of family care responsibilities. Single parents can claim up to 30 days per child for sick leave for children, and parents with more than two children can receive sick leave for children for up to 35 days, and single parents with more than two children for up to 70 days.
The trend of more mothers taking sick leave to care for children is not a new phenomenon. In 2024, mothers submitted approximately 296,000 applications for sick leave for children to Barmer, while men submitted around 109,000. In 2021, women submitted 365,000 applications, while men submitted 139,000.
Sick leave for children is usually 90% of the lost net income and can be taken flexibly for individual days, such as on two of five days in a week. Parents can apply for sick leave for children at their health insurance company, even if they work from home.
The unequal distribution of sick leave for children between mothers and fathers in Germany largely stems from traditional gender roles and statutory leave structures that favor mothers. Mothers are more likely to take sick leave to care for children due to societal expectations and parental leave policies that primarily target mothers, while fathers have more limited or less utilized access to such leave.
German law provides substantial parental leave predominantly taken by mothers, with fathers participating much less. Almost all mothers take their full entitlement of parental leave, whereas only around 2–3% of fathers do so, signaling a strong gender disparity in caregiving responsibilities after childbirth.
There is no statutory right for paternity leave specifically; fathers may take parental leave, but uptake is low. Some employers voluntarily offer paternity leave, but this is not widespread or guaranteed, limiting fathers’ opportunities for leave to care for sick children.
The cultural norm and workplace expectations often designate mothers as the primary caregivers, leading to more mothers taking sick leave to care for children. This unequal role distribution reinforces disparities in sick leave usage between mothers and fathers.
Parental allowance and leave policy in Germany is mostly structured around mothers after birth and parental leave schemes, creating financial and legal incentives primarily for mothers to stay home, thereby increasing their use of sick leave for child care.
Barmer health insurance company reported the data regarding the number of applications for sick leave for children. As of January 1, 2024, parents can apply for sick leave for children for up to 15 days per year, up from the previous 10 days.
This imbalance in sick leave for children is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed to ensure equal opportunities for both mothers and fathers in caregiving responsibilities.
In light of the data from Barmer, it appears that the health-and-wellness sector, particularly family-health issues, is intertwined with the traditional gender roles in Germany, as the unequal distribution of sick leave for children primarily advantages mothers. This disparity in parenting roles could potentially influence science and policy-making, seeking balance and equal opportunities for both parents in caregiving responsibilities.
