On Thursday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that workers in Germany would be required to present a sick note on the first day of their illness. “We want to get Germany back on track,” Mr Merz told reporters. The new rule is set to become a legal requirement. Currently, a medical note is required on the fourth day.
The announcement came in an attempt to bolster Europe’s largest economy. The coalition government announced a comprehensive package of reforms, including tax relief for low-income families and changes to the pension system.
While economists have welcomed the move, the National Association of Health Insurance (KBV) chairman, Andreas Gassen, felt that, “Anyone with a cough or a gastrointestinal infection belongs in bed – not in a packed doctor’s office.” Employers have had mixed reactions; some have praised the reforms while others have labelled them unfair and unworkable.
