Germany has ignited a heated debate after its coalition government announced that employees will be required to supply a doctor’s certificate on day one of sickness.
The move also eliminates the option to obtain a certificate by phone, a provision introduced during the Covid‑19 pandemic to streamline the process.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Germany’s sick‑leave figures have become “exorbitant” and that the country is “returning to pre‑pandemic arrangements.” He highlighted that the new rule would level the playing field for businesses.
Under current rules, a doctor’s note is only mandatory after an employee has been too ill to work for more than three days – but employers can ask for it earlier. The coalition’s change will pressure workers to turn to the doctor immediately.
The coalition – led by the CDU and SPD – slated the policy as part of broader tax, labour and pension reforms designed to boost the country’s economy.
Medical associations have sharply criticized the proposal. The KBV said that requiring people to visit doctors for paperwork “bordered on madness” and that patients suffering mild symptoms should remain at home rather than crowd doctors’ offices.
The Association of General Practitioners warned that even simple infections could overwhelm waiting rooms, creating congestion and the risk of further contagion.
SPD Vice‑Chancellor Lars Klingbeil called for workable solutions and said the party would seek to understand whether the new rule has real impact or only causes inconvenience.
Labour Minister Bärbel Bas said she would inspect the first‑day certificate requirement. “That wasn’t my proposal,” she told RTL, and pledged to investigate the potential ramifications.
Jens Spahn, the CDU parliamentary group leader, defended the policy, noting that Germany has the highest sick‑leave rate in the EU – around 18 days per employee per year – and that genuine illnesses must be respected.
The reforms aim to curb long absences that hamper productivity, while aiming to keep workers safe – a delicate balance many employers worry about.
As the debate unfolds, businesses and workers alike are watching how the legislation will be implemented and whether it will spark a broader re‑evaluation of sick‑leave practices across Europe.
