Health Bonus at Dortmund's Device Manufacturer: GfG's Unconventional Approach
Financial Incentive of Euro 1400 Granted to Dortmund Company for Health Services
Date: June 6, 2025Author: Sebastian Tischkov
In the bustling heart of Dortmund, a device manufacturing company named GfG is shaking up the industry with an innovative approach.
Your daily grind at GfG could resemble that of any medium-sized company. One employee might be soldering, another assembling devices, and the next is meticulously testing them. But there's one key difference that sets this company apart — their exceptional efforts to prioritize employee wellness.
Average sick leave rates have been hovering around three percent for decades, significantly lower than the industry standard of 7.1 percent, reported by health insurance company AOK NordWest for 2024. This is particularly impressive considering the length of sick leaves in the industry.
The "Health Savings" Plan
Every employee of GfG starts the new year with a virtual "health savings account" worth 1400 Euro. Employees who manage to avoid sick leave for the entire year receive the full bonus. If, however, they fall ill and need to take a sick day, the company deducts 140 Euro from their savings for each day missed.
The company CEO, Hans-Joerg Hübner, came up with this idea years ago, shocked by Volkswagen's sick leave rate of over 15 percent at the time. "I wanted to encourage personal responsibility and teamwork," the Dortmund entrepreneur explains.
Hübner sees the program as both a financial incentive and a form of shared responsibility. Employees who prioritize their health contribute to a more productive team environment.
Is Quarantine Time the Solution?
Recently, Allianz insurance company CEO Oliver Bäte proposed a different solution to tackle the rising sick leave rates. He called for the introduction of "quarantine days," implying that employees who take more than two days off for illness would not receive pay.
This proposal faced harsh criticism from the German Trade Union Confederation, who deemed it "unfair." Hübner also disagrees, stating, "It would undermine trust in the company and lead to increased stress levels."
A Silent Critic – The Trade Unions
Despite the program's success at GfG, trade unions have expressed concerns. They argue that such bonus systems promote "presenteeism" — reporting to work while ill.
Hübner intends to stick to his model, as it has proven effective for over 25 years.
Sources:
- our website - reporters on the spot
- tagesschau.de
- news agency dpa
- Pros and Cons of Health-Based Bonus Systems
- Incentivizing Health – A Comprehensive Look
- GfG's innovative approach in Dortmund's device manufacturing industry includes an unconventional health bonus, aimed at prioritizing employee wellness.
- Every GfG employee starts the new year with a virtual health savings account worth 1400 Euro, incentivizing them to maintain their health and avoid sick leave.
- Finance and business analysts have discussed the effectiveness of health-based bonus systems, such as the one implemented by GfG, in promoting workplace wellness and employee productivity.
- Despite the success of the health bonus system at GfG, trade unions remain critical, fearing it could lead to presenteeism, where employees might report to work while ill.
