Germany’s new sick‑leave policy has sparked a heated debate among policymakers, medical groups, and workers. The coalition government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has announced that employees will now be required to submit a doctor’s certificate on the very first day of illness. The policy will also eliminate the prior Covid‑19‑era provision that allowed a doctor’s note to be obtained by telephone.
Under the current rules, a certificate is only mandatory if a worker is absent for more than three days – typically the fourth day. By contrast, the new measure moves the threshold to day one, thereby tightening enforcement. The plan was adopted by the GOP‑led Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD). “The number of sick days in Germany is too high,” Merz said, citing the country’s average of nearly 18 sick days per employee per year.
The change has faced swift backlash from Germany’s main medical associations. The national physician group (KBV) called it “bordering on madness” because it would force patients to visit clinics for even mild symptoms. The Association of General Practitioners warned that the policy would spill over into waiting rooms, leading to overcrowded practices.
Opposition from the labour side has been equally vocal. Vice‑Chancellor Lars Klingbeil and Labour Minister Bärbel Bas said they were looking for workable solutions and would investigate whether doing so on the first day actually prevents undue absence. “This wasn’t part of my proposal,” Bas told television, noting that the final decision would be reviewed under the coalition’s labour committee.
The new rule is part of a broader set of tax, labour, and pension reforms aimed at reviving German productivity. Whether it will succeed in curbing absenteeism at the expense of health‑care capacity remains to be seen. The debate underscores the fine line policymakers must walk between maintaining efficient workplaces and respecting workers’ health and safety rights.
