this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2026
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cross-posted from: https://feddit.online/c/euro@feddit.online/p/1817064/germany-tightens-sick-leave-rules-medical-doctor-note-required-from-day-one-telephone-s

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

We can no longer accept the extraordinarily high levels of sick leave in our companies.

We are abolishing sick leave by telephone and introducing the requirement to submit a medical certificate from the very first day of illness.

We know this is a tough decision. But we can no longer afford this competitive disadvantage caused by prolonged absences from work.

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[โ€“] Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de 30 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Crazy. In the Netherlands the employer is not even allowed to ask what disease you have. If they want to know if your sick leave is legit they have to get an independent doctor involved.

Yes it's easy to abuse the system but hear me out, what if, the employer is nice to it's employees? They'd be unlikely to abuse sick leave.

[โ€“] CmdrUlle@feddit.org 26 points 1 day ago

The certificate doesn't say why one is sick, and the employer make not ask.

Still, requiring at first day is dumb on sooo many levels....

[โ€“] jenesaisquoi@feddit.org 15 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Same in Germany, the doctor does not say why, just that there is an inability to work due to illness. On top of that it is illegal for the employer to even ask.

[โ€“] DdCno1@beehaw.org 1 points 14 hours ago

Lots do ask, of course.

[โ€“] tja@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Well, yes. But the Betriebsarzt will now have access to your ePA and through this to your full health history.

[โ€“] B0rax@feddit.org 5 points 1 day ago

Only if you have an ePA. Which anyone with any understanding of privacy will have rejected

[โ€“] jenesaisquoi@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

Well, yes, but you don't have to have an ePA