Germany's New Sick-Note Rule Sparks Labor Row

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:36:39 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Germany's government now requires a doctor’s note for employees from day one of illness, sparking backlash from medical groups and raising concerns over employee protection.

In early July Germany announced reforms that will force employees to provide a doctor’s certificate on the first day of sick leave, ending the pandemic‑era phone‑based system. The move, supported by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the CDU‑SPD coalition, aims to curb what officials label “exorbitant” sick‑leave rates. Medical associations warn that mandatory early appointments could flood practices with sufferers of mild conditions. Critics argue the policy could undermine workers' health rights and strain the health system. The debate continues as lawmakers rehearse the rule’s impact and explore alternative arrangements.

Germany’s New Sick‑Note Rule Sparks Labor Row

Germany’s coalition government has announced a sweeping change to sick‑leave rules that requires workers to present a doctor’s certificate on the very first day of an illness. The amendment will also cancel the coronavirus‑era provision that let employees collect a note by phone.

The reforms, backed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the CDU‑SPD coalition, aim to curb what officials say is an “exorbitant” number of sick days. Merz told ARD TV that Germany is “returning to the arrangements we had before the coronavirus pandemic.”

Under current rules, a certificate is only necessary if the employee is deemed unfit for work for more than three days – effective on day four of illness, although employers may request proof earlier. The new measure would tighten this window to the first day itself.

Medical associations have issued sharp criticism. The national association of statutory health insurance physicians (KBV) declared the policy “bordered on madness,” arguing that thousands of people would need to visit doctors just to fill out paperwork. The German Association of General Practitioners warned that even mild infections could overcrowd practices if patients were required to obtain certificates on day one.

Vice‑Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, a member of the SPD, said he was seeking “workable solutions” and that the party would look into whether the requirement truly helps reduce absenteeism or merely creates new hurdles for employees.

Labour Minister Bärbel Bas also noted that the rule was not part of her proposals and pledged an investigation into its practical impact. Meanwhile, Jens Spahn – leader of the CDU’s parliamentary group – defended the reforms by citing Germany’s high sick‑leave rates, which reach around 18 days per employee each year.

The policy will be part of a broader package of tax, labour and pension reforms aimed at reviving the German economy. Stakeholders now watch closely as the rule is debated further and potential alternatives are discussed.