Germany’s government has unveiled a sweeping economic reform package, and one measure stands out for HR leaders: stricter sick leave rules. Under the proposal, employees may be required to present a doctor’s certificate from the very first day of illness. The option of obtaining a sick note by phone, introduced during the pandemic, will also be scrapped.
Currently, German workers can take up to three days off without medical documentation, with a certificate needed from the fourth day. The new plan shifts responsibility to employers, who can demand proof immediately. Extended sick leave through phone consultations will also be restricted.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has argued that high levels of absenteeism are hurting productivity and competitiveness. The government sees stricter verification as a way to reduce misuse, improve accountability, and support economic recovery. Germany’s economy has been under pressure from rising energy costs, global competition and demographic challenges.
For HR teams, the change means closer monitoring of attendance and more administrative work. Employees with minor illnesses may now need to visit doctors just to secure paperwork, raising concerns about overcrowded clinics and unnecessary strain on healthcare services. Medical associations have criticised the move, calling it impractical and potentially harmful to patient care.
The sick leave overhaul is part of 34 reforms, including tax relief for families, pension changes linking retirement age to life expectancy, and efforts to cut bureaucracy.
It will be a challenge for HR to balance compliance with empathy as stricter documentation requirements reshape workplace absence management.
