It can be a social policy, as well. In Germany, each parent is entitled to up to 10 days a year (single parents get 20) to take care of their sick child. Most people get 70% of their regular wages for those days, paid by the public health insurance.
>>seoulm+er
Your own sick leave (at 100% pay, paid by the employer) is separate and the average German employee takes 22 days of sick leave per year, up from 16 days ten years ago.