Coalition tightens sick note rules: Telephone sick notes to be scrapped, certificate requirement from day one

In addition, a mandatory submission of a certificate of incapacity to work is to be introduced from the first day of illness. Until now, a medical certificate has only been required from the fourth day onwards. "Dauert die Arbeitsunfähigkeit länger als drei Kalendertage, hat der Arbeitnehmer eine ärztliche Bescheinigung über das Bestehen der Arbeitsunfähigkeit sowie deren voraussichtliche Dauer spätestens an dem darauffolgenden Arbeitstag vorzulegen," the legal provisions state.

Reactions from the coalition

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) had already lamented what he considered to be an excessively high level of sick leave last year and questioned the option of telephone sick notes. "Der Krankenstand in vielen Firmen lag zuletzt auf einem relativ hohen Niveau," the coalition partners wrote to justify the plan. Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) also announced that the rule would be reviewed.

The telephone sick note is tied to conditions: "unter der Bedingung, dass man in der Praxis bekannt ist und keine schweren Symptome hat," the coalition partners explained. Until now, it has been possible "Krankschreiben lassen kann man sich für bis zu fünf Kalendertage."

What remains: Reporting obligation and employers' rights

Regardless of the certificate requirement, the immediate obligation to notify the employer remains in place. "Wenn man krankheitsbedingt nicht zur Arbeit gehen kann, muss man dies der Firma unverzüglich mitteilen," CDU/CSU and SPD emphasized. Employers also already have rights today: "Der Arbeitgeber ist berechtigt, die Vorlage der ärztlichen Bescheinigung früher zu verlangen," current law provides.

The plans were first reported by dpa-AFX in Berlin. The coalition partners presented the tightening as a response to what they perceived as an excessively high number of sick notes. It remains unclear when the new rules are to come into force.

Open questions and criticism

The black-red coalition justifies its plans with the aim of reducing absenteeism and curbing the misuse of telephone sick notes. Critics, however, argue that a certificate requirement from day one would primarily place an additional burden on those with statutory health insurance and further increase pressure on doctor's offices.