Germany's coalition government has introduced new sick-leave regulations requiring workers to provide a doctor's note to employers on the first day of illness. The new rules also end the practice of obtaining sick notes by phone, reversing a measure implemented during the coronavirus pandemic.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the changes, stating that Germany is reverting to the sick-leave arrangements that were in place before the pandemic. "The number of sick days in Germany is too high," Merz said. He acknowledged the decision as difficult, adding, "This is a tough decision. But we can no longer afford this competitive disadvantage caused by long periods of absence from work."

Under prior regulations, a medical certificate was only mandated if an employee was unfit for work for more than three days. "We are abolishing sick leave by phone and introducing the requirement to submit a medical certificate from the very first day of illness," Merz said. He also noted that individual businesses retain the flexibility to agree on other arrangements.

The Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) both agreed to the new sick-leave plans. Jens Spahn, leader of the CDU's parliamentary group, defended the new regulations. He cited the average number of sick days per employee in Germany, saying, "We have one of the highest numbers of sick days – around 18 per year per employee." Spahn added, "And those who are genuinely ill should, of course, be able to stay at home."

In response to the changes, the KBV, a national association representing statutory health insurance physicians, issued criticism. A KBV representative stated, "It bordered on madness to force thousands of people to visit doctors' surgeries simply to fill in forms." The representative added, "Anyone who is coughing or has a gastrointestinal infection belongs in bed – not in an overcrowded surgery." The Association of General Practitioners also warned that these changes could lead to doctors' waiting rooms being filled with minor infection cases.

Labour Minister Bärbel Bas indicated she would investigate the requirement for a doctor's certificate on the first day of illness. "That wasn't my proposal," Bas said. She added, "We will look into whether this actually has any effect at all, or whether it is more likely to cause difficulties." Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil commented, "We now need to put sensible arrangements in place for what has been proposed in the coalition committee." These sick-leave changes are part of broader reforms focusing on tax, labor, and pensions.