Germany Plans Mandatory Doctor’s Note From Day One of Sick Leave, Sparking Backlash
Published on 07/30/2026 at 04:02 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The German government is pushing ahead with a sweeping overhaul of sick-leave rules, requiring employees to produce a medical certificate on the very first day they call in sick. The move, announced in late July 2026, also targets the phone-based sick-note system introduced during the pandemic, which is now slated for abolition.
Tighter Rules to Curb Rising Absenteeism
Under current law, workers must present a doctor’s note—formally an Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung (AU)—no later than the third calendar day of illness, unless their employment contract sets a stricter deadline. The proposed reform would make this a blanket requirement from day one for all employees. The government argues the change is necessary to bring down Germany’s climbing sick-leave rates.
Alongside the new AU mandate, the government plans to scrap the telephone-based sick-note option. That system was originally introduced to ease pressure on doctors’ surgeries during the pandemic. The Federal Ministry of Health clarified on July 29, 2026, that retroactive issuance of sick notes is already not permitted under current rules.
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Doctors Warn of “Massive Overload”
Medical associations have reacted with fierce opposition. The German Association of General Practitioners (Hausärzteverband) warned that a universal day-one certificate requirement would overwhelm the healthcare system. According to the group’s calculations, it could trigger roughly 36 million extra visits to doctors’ offices each year, inevitably leading to longer wait times for all patients. Physicians also stressed that the phone-based system had reduced infection risks in waiting rooms and lightened administrative burdens.
The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) of Rhineland-Palatinate echoed those concerns, calling the planned end of telephone sick notes “medically wrong.” From their perspective, the tool had proven effective at streamlining bureaucracy and improving patient care.
Employers and Unions Question the Logic
Surprisingly, both employer representatives and trade unions have voiced doubts about the government’s reasoning. The German Trade Union Federation (DGB) stated that available evidence shows no significant link between phone-based sick notes and overall absenteeism levels. Employer-side representatives added that they observe misuse of sick leave only among a small minority of staff.
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) proposed alternatives to the government’s plan. Instead of tightening rules, they suggested introducing waiting days—where employees would not receive pay for the first day or two of illness—or requiring a doctor’s note only from the fourth day of absence. Such models, they argued, would ease pressure on practices while encouraging personal responsibility.
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Legal Framework and Timeline
Even under the current legal framework—specifically Section 5 of the German Continued Remuneration Act (EFZG)—employers can already demand a day-one certificate if it is stipulated in individual contracts or works agreements. The reform would elevate this to a statutory default for all employment relationships.
Initial proposals for the tightening were discussed in the coalition committee as early as July 2026. The legislative process is expected to wrap up by the end of 2026, meaning the new rules could take effect as soon as the start of 2027.
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