Germany’s government has proposed new sick leave rules as part of a broader economic reform package aimed at improving productivity and strengthening the country’s competitiveness.
Under the proposal, employers would be allowed to require employees to submit a doctor’s certificate from the first day of illness, replacing the current practice that generally allows workers to take up to three days of sick leave before medical documentation is required. The government also plans to discontinue the pandemic-era provision that allowed employees to obtain sick notes through telephone consultations.
According to the government, the proposed changes are intended to reduce misuse of sick leave, improve attendance monitoring, and support economic recovery. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that high levels of absenteeism are affecting productivity and the country’s economic competitiveness amid challenges such as rising energy costs, global competition, and demographic pressures.
If implemented, the new rules would place greater responsibility on employers to manage attendance and determine when medical documentation is required. HR departments may need to adapt their absence management processes to comply with the revised requirements.
The proposal has also prompted concerns from medical associations, which argue that requiring doctor visits for minor illnesses could increase pressure on healthcare services and create additional administrative burdens for both patients and healthcare providers.
The sick leave measures form part of a wider package of 34 proposed reforms, which also includes tax relief for families, pension reforms linked to life expectancy, and initiatives aimed at reducing administrative bureaucracy.
The proposals are subject to Germany’s legislative process before they can take effect. If approved, employers and HR teams will need to update workplace attendance and sick leave policies to align with the new requirements.
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