Overview
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned an average of roughly 14.5 sick days per employee and said he will discuss curbing telephone certifications with the SPD.
- KBV chief Andreas Gassen called Germany’s sick-leave level very high by international comparison and urged abolishing phone AUs and the requirement to obtain a sick note in the first three days.
- Gassen warned that telephone certifications invite misuse and cited millions of "bagatelle" doctor contacts that he says could be avoided.
- The AOK countered that few cases use phone AUs and said the 2022 electronic sick-note system likely improved capture of short absences rather than increasing illness.
- SPD, Greens, Left and BSW figures criticized Merz’s approach and pushed prevention and workplace improvements, while conservatives floated measures such as waiting days, with no legislative changes announced.