German Government Proposes New Sick-Leave Rules
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that the number of sick days taken in Germany is "too high," prompting a contentious debate following the coalition government's announcement of new sick-leave regulations. The proposed changes would require employees to provide a doctor's note to their employers on the very first day of illness.
Additionally, the new rules would eliminate the option to obtain a sick note via telephone, a measure that had been introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to reduce in-person visits.
"The number of sick days in Germany is too high," said Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Currently, employees are only required to submit a medical certificate if they are unable to work for more than three days—that is, starting from the fourth day of absence—although employers have the right to request a certificate earlier if they choose.
The proposed changes were agreed upon by Chancellor Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and their coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
"This is a tough decision," the chancellor acknowledged. "But we can no longer afford this competitive disadvantage caused by long periods of absence from work."
Merz emphasized the government's stance against what he described as "exorbitant" levels of sick leave following the pandemic.
Germany was "returning to the arrangements we had before the coronavirus pandemic," he told ARD TV on Thursday night.
"At the same time, it is up to individual businesses to agree on other arrangements as well."
Medical Community Raises Concerns
The medical community has expressed strong criticism of the proposed changes.
The KBV, a national association representing statutory health insurance physicians, stated that the requirement would "border on madness" by forcing thousands of individuals to visit doctors' offices merely to obtain paperwork.
"Anyone who is coughing or has a gastrointestinal infection belongs in bed – not in an overcrowded surgery," the KBV said in a statement.
The Association of General Practitioners also warned that minor infections, which might only require a day or two of rest, could lead to overcrowded waiting rooms at medical practices.
Political Responses and Ongoing Discussions
SPD leader and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil sought to ease tensions, indicating that the party was searching for "workable solutions."
"We now need to put sensible arrangements in place for what has been proposed in the coalition committee," Klingbeil told RTL TV.
Labour Minister Bärbel Bas, also from the SPD, stated she would review the requirement for a doctor's certificate on the first day of illness.
"That wasn't my proposal," Bas told RTL.
"We will look into whether this actually has any effect at all, or whether it is more likely to cause difficulties."
On the other hand, Jens Spahn, leader of the CDU's parliamentary group, defended the government's position.
He noted that Germany's sick leave rate is among the highest in the European Union.
"We have one of the highest numbers of sick days – around 18 per year per employee," he said.
"And those who are genuinely ill should, of course, be able to stay at home."
Context of the Reforms
The proposed changes to sick-leave policies are part of a broader package of tax, labor, and pension reforms designed to stimulate Germany's economy.
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