Germans will no longer be allowed to take sick leave without submitting a medical certificate, effective from the very first day of illness. This is part of a new package of reforms announced last week by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The measures are aimed at reviving the economy.
Germany
Currently, employees can stay home for up to three days without providing a doctor’s note. And they can obtain one without seeing a doctor. In addition, employees on sick leave receive their full salary for up to six weeks.
Merz has repeatedly stated that the proportion of employees on sick leave in Germany is too high, and this undermines labor productivity.
Germany is not the only country looking to tighten the rules for those deemed to be abusing the system, Euronews reports. Another country tightening the screws is neighboring Poland.
Poland
There, sick leave pay amounts to 80% — starting from the first day — or 100% if the illness or injury is work-related.
Warsaw is tightening controls on sick leave by introducing a new mandatory medical examination after the first 14 days of absence.
Other European countries give employees much more time before they are required to submit a medical certificate.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, employees are required to provide a doctor’s note only if they are absent for more than seven consecutive days.
Supporters of this system argue that it reduces unnecessary visits to doctors for minor ailments, prevents the spread of viruses in waiting rooms, and saves time and resources for the overburdened National Health Service.
But it’s not all rosy: the statutory minimum sick pay is only 123 pounds (144 euros) per week, although some employers may pay more than that depending on the terms of the employment contract.
France, Spain
In France, the deadline for submitting a sick note is 48 hours. The law guarantees sick pay equal to 50% of the employee’s base daily wage, but this is capped at a set maximum. At the same time, employers may pay their employees more than this amount.
Spain has one of the most generous systems: no benefits are provided for the first three days of sick leave; thereafter, 60% of the salary is paid for one month; and after the 20th day of incapacity, the rate increases to 75%.
Italy
In Italy, the situation is more complex: employees have 48 hours to submit a sick leave certificate, but whether they are paid for the first three days depends on the terms of their employment contract.
From the fourth day until the end of the first month , they receive only half their salary; thereafter, for the next five months, the payment increases to approximately 67%.
If they work in the hospitality industry, they are paid 80% of their salary for the entire duration of their sick leave.
Sweden
In Sweden, an employee can be on sick leave for up to eight days before being required to provide a doctor’s note, and the document does not have to specify a particular diagnosis.
Employees receive 80% of their salary from the first day through the 14th day of illness. After that, they must apply for sick leave benefits.
Hungary
In Budapest, the rules are much stricter: employers require a doctor’s note starting on the first day of sick leave. Employees in Hungary typically receive 70% of their salary for the first 15 days of illness. After that, the benefit amount drops to 50–60%.
