Stefan Wolf, president of the central employers' association Gesamtmetall, has proposed a radical change to the sick pay system. He wants employers to pay sick pay only from the second day of absence, not from the first as is currently the case. He also advocates abolishing the possibility of obtaining a sick note by phone. These proposals, motivated by high levels of sickness absence and the fight against abuse, have been met with sharp criticism from trade unions, who see them as an attack on workers' rights and a threat to public health.

Sick pay from day two

Stefan Wolf, head of the employers' association Gesamtmetall, proposes that employers pay sick pay only from the second day of absence. Currently, by law, payment is due from the first day. Wolf argues the change would motivate employees to recover faster and limit abuse.

Abolition of phone sick notes

Wolf's second postulate is to abolish the possibility of obtaining a sick note by phone, which was made permanent in German law in 2023. In his view, requiring an in-person doctor's visit would increase the credibility of sick notes. Trade unions and doctors fear this would burden the health system and discourage isolation for mild infections.

Sharp reaction from trade unions

Wolf's proposals were met with immediate opposition from Germany's largest trade unions, IG Metall and Verdi. Critics accuse the idea of attacking workers' rights, shifting the costs of illness onto employees, especially lower earners, and potentially forcing sick people to come to work, which risks spreading infections.

Background: High sickness absence

The debate takes place against the backdrop of persistently high levels of sickness absence in Germany. Employers, represented by Wolf, see relaxed rules, such as phone sick notes, as one of the causes of this phenomenon. Trade unions point to other factors, including actual illnesses and working conditions.

The debate over Germany's sick note system has intensified following controversial proposals by Stefan Wolf, president of the central employers' association in the metal and electrical industry Gesamtmetall. In media interviews, including with 'Die Welt' and 'n-tv', Wolf presented two main ideas: employer payment of sick pay only from the second day of absence and the complete abolition of the possibility to obtain a sick note by phone. Currently, under the 2023 law, an employee is entitled to sick pay from the first day of illness and can receive a sick note by phone. Wolf justifies his postulates as a fight against high sickness absence, which he believes is a serious burden for companies. He claims the current system "encourages abuse." In an interview with 'n-tv' on March 7, he tried to present the proposal as beneficial for employees too, arguing it would motivate them to recover faster. „„Das hilft auch Arbeitnehmern. Es geht darum, ein System zu schaffen, das missbrauchsresistent ist und das diejenigen schützt, die wirklich krank sind.”” — Stefan Wolf However, he did not retreat from the core proposal regarding payment from the second day. The German sick pay system (Entgeltfortzahlung im Krankheitsfall) has a long tradition and is one of the more generous in Europe. Since 1994, employers have been obliged to pay full wages for the first six weeks of an employee's illness. Sick notes by phone were temporarily introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and then made permanent in law in 2023, which met with mixed reactions from doctors and health insurers. The reaction from trade unions was immediate and decidedly negative. Representatives of the powerful unions IG Metall and Verdi sharply criticized the idea, seeing it as an attempt to limit workers' rights and shift the costs of illness onto employees. They fear such a change would force sick people, especially those on lower incomes, to come to work, which could lead to further spread of infections and worsening health. Critics also point out that the idea strikes at a basic principle of solidarity. The postulate to abolish phone sick notes also raises concerns about additional burden on clinics and discouraging people from staying home with mild but contagious ailments. The debate reflects a broader conflict between employers and trade unions against the backdrop of persistently high levels of sickness absence in Germany, which each side interprets through the lens of its own interests.

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media and trade unions present the proposal as an attack on social rights and a threat to public health, emphasizing its negative impact on the lowest earners. Conservative media and employer circles focus on the high costs of sickness absence for the economy and the need to fight abuse in the system.

Mentioned People

  • Stefan Wolf — President of the central employers' association Gesamtmetall, author of controversial proposals for changes to the sick pay system.