German coalition leaders have agreed to revert to pre-pandemic sick leave regulations, requiring employees to present a doctor's note on the first day of illness. This change, intended to address what Chancellor Friedrich Merz described as "exorbitant" levels of sick leave, revokes a measure that allowed employees to obtain notes via phone.
Under the previous rules, a doctor's certificate was typically required only by the fourth day of absence, though employers could request it earlier. Merz stated that the lengthy periods of absence have created a "competitive disadvantage" for Germany and that the country is returning to prior arrangements.
However, the plan has drawn sharp criticism from medical associations. The KBV, a national body representing physicians, called the requirement to visit a doctor's office for a form "madness," arguing that contagious individuals would be forced into crowded waiting rooms. The Association of General Practitioners echoed these concerns, warning of an influx of patients seeking notes for short-term illnesses.
Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, a Social Democrat, sought to mitigate the controversy, suggesting efforts to find "workable solutions." Labor Minister Bärbel Bas, also from the SPD, indicated she would review the first-day doctor's note requirement, questioning its effectiveness and potential to create difficulties.
Jens Spahn, leader of the CDU's parliamentary group, defended the policy, citing Germany's high rate of sick leave, which he stated averages around 18 days per employee annually, among the steepest in the European Union. He emphasized that genuinely ill individuals should still be able to stay home.
The revised sick leave policy was agreed upon as part of broader economic reforms, including adjustments to tax, labor, and pension systems, aimed at revitalizing Germany's economy.