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Sick leave from day 1: GPs find reform plan “absolutely catastrophic”:
The government is abolishing sick leave by phone. It is introducing the requirement to ...
focus.de/gesundheit/news/krankschreibung-ab-1-tag-hausaerzte-finden-reformplan-absolut-katastrophal_94156368-2c57-4cb3-965f-0f65aeaa5f8f.html
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Sick leave by phone: When will it be abolished?: The federal government wants to abolish the option of obtaining a sick note by phone. When will this take ...
stuttgarter-zeitung.de/politik/neue-regeln-zur-krankmeldung-ab-wann-wird-die-telefonische-krankschreibung-abgeschafft-79276435.html
Sick leave from the first day: When is it mandatory?: The federal government wants to tighten the rules for sick leave. When will the new regulations apply?
stuttgarter-zeitung.de/politik/krankschreibung-ab-dem-ersten-tag-ab-wann-gilt-die-regel-79276082.html
Sick leave obligation: This is what will apply to sick leave at work in the future.
handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/au-pflicht-das-gilt-kuenftig-bei-krankschreibungen-im-job/100237481.html
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No longer possible by phone: Employees must submit a doctor's note starting on the first day of absence
n-tv.de/politik/Beschaeftigte-sollen-Krankschreibung-schon-ab-erstem-Fehltag-vorlegen-id31038508.html
Sick leave by phone is being abolished: These are the alternatives: The German government wants to abolish sick leave by phone. These are the alternatives.
stuttgarter-zeitung.de/politik/telefonische-krankschreibung-wird-abgeschafft-so-kann-man-sich-trotzdem-von-zu-hause-aus-krankschreiben-lassen-79269718.html
Stricter Rules for Sick Leave and More: What's in the Coalition's Reform Package
pz-news.de/politik_artikel,-Schaerfere-Regeln-fuer-Krankschreibungen-und-mehr-Das-steht-im-Reformpaket-der-Koalition-_arid,2358079.html
Sick leave: Certificate of incapacity for work (AU certificate) becomes mandatory from day 1
stuttgarter-zeitung.de/politik/regeln-bei-der-krankschreibung-werden-verschaerft-au-bescheinigung-ab-erstem-krankheitstag-wird-pflicht-79265735.html
Sick leave from day 1: GPs find reform plan “absolutely catastrophic”: The government is abolishing sick leave by phone. It is introducing the requirement to ...
focus.de/gesundheit/news/krankschreibung-ab-1-tag-hausaerzte-finden-reformplan-absolut-katastrophal_94156368-2c57-4cb3-965f-0f65aeaa5f8f.html
Sick leave: Implementation of stricter sick leave requirements still open: Will employees have to see a doctor on the first day of illness in the future? No ...
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2026-07/krankschreibung-regeln-telefon-arbeitsunfaehigkeitsbescheinigung
Stricter rules for sick leave planned: Stricter Rules for Sick Leave Planned - Politics - DIE RHEINPFALZ
rheinpfalz.de/politik_artikel,-sch%C3%A4rfere-regeln-f%C3%BCr-krankschreibungen-geplant-_arid,5906187.html
New sick leave regulations: Medical certificate required from day 1: Sick leave rates in many companies have recently been relatively high. The coalition now ...
infranken.de/deutschland/neue-krankschreibungs-regelung-attest-pflicht-ab-tag-1-kommt-art-6374719
Rules for sick leave: Widespread criticism of planned new regulations on sick leave
zeit.de/gesundheit/2026-07/krankschreibung-arbeitsunfaehigkeitsbescheinigung-koalition-unternehmen
Stricter rules planned for sick leave certificates - | due from the first day: The coalition wants to take a hard line on sick leave certificates in Germany: ...
stimme.de/politik/welt/koalition-plant-schaerfere-regeln-krankschreibung-ab-dem-ersten-tag-telefonisch-abschaffung-reform-art-5189848
Black-red plans: Sick leave regulations are to be significantly tightened: Faced with high absenteeism rates, politicians want to revise the rules for sick leave ...
schwaebische.de/politik/schwarz-rote-plaene-krankschreibung-soll-deutlich-verschaerft-werden-4689126
More hurdles for sick leave at work - | What's next?: When employees aren't healthy, they're absent from offices and factory floors ...
nw.de/nachrichten/nachrichten/24366430_Mehr-Huerden-fuer-Krankschreibungen-im-Job-was-soll-kommen.html
Sick leave: In the future, you'll have to see a doctor on the first day - | what else is changing.
morgenpost.de/politik/article412457523/krankschreibung-kuenftig-am-ersten-tag-zum-arzt-und-was-sich-noch-aendert.html
Doctors protest: Sick leave will be mandatory from the first day - | Golem.de: The German government wants to change the legal regulations surrounding sick leave ...
golem.de/news/aerzte-protestieren-krankschreibung-wird-ab-dem-ersten-tag-zur-pflicht-2607-210437.html
Sick leave soon from the first day? General practitioners are already warning: The CDU/CSU and SPD have agreed on a far-reaching change to sick leave regulations ...
stern.de/politik/deutschland/krankschreibung-kuenftig-ab-dem-ersten-tag--doch-hausaerzte-warnen-schon-37637146.html
Paid articlePaywall Sick leave in Germany: End of telephone sick notes planned: The German government plans to abolish sick notes issued over the phone and make a doctor's ...
sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/krankschreibung-deutschland-ende-atteste-krankheitstag-li.3509787
Coalition plans stricter rules for sick leave: The sick leave rate in many companies has recently been at a relatively high level. The coalition now wants to ...
op-online.de/politik/koalition-plant-schaerfere-regeln-fuer-krankschreibungen-zr-94378901.html
Berlin: Coalition plans stricter rules for sick leave: The sick leave rate in many companies has recently been at a relatively high level ...
stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/politik/berlin-koalition-plant-schaerfere-regeln-fuer-krankschreibungen-79266017.html
Paid articlePaywall Hurdles to sick leave: What this means for employees: Sick leave rates in many companies have recently been relatively high. This makes reporting sick more ...
noz.de/deutschland-welt/politik/artikel/huerden-fuer-krankschreibungen-was-das-fuer-arbeitnehmer-bedeutet-50866170
Sick leave: In the future, you'll need to see a doctor on the first day - | what else is changing
waz.de/politik/article412457523/krankschreibung-kuenftig-am-ersten-tag-zum-arzt-und-was-sich-noch-aendert.html
More Hurdles for Sick Leave at Work - | What's Next?: When employees aren't healthy, they are absent from offices and factory floors ...
fnweb.de/politik_artikel,-politik-koalition-plant-schaerfere-regeln-fuer-krankschreibungen-_arid,2385110.html
Paid articlePaywall Federal government plans stricter rules for sick leave: The sick leave rate in many companies has recently been at a relatively high level ...
bnn.de/nachrichten/deutschland-und-welt/koalition-plant-schaerfere-regeln-fuer-krankschreibungen
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"No abuse detectable": AOK CEO advocates for the continuation of sick leave by phone
n-tv.de/politik/AOK-Chefin-wirbt-fuer-Fortbestand-der-telefonischen-Krankschreibung-id31224329.html
Key FactsAOK chief Reimann defends sick notes by phone
Aug 24, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: deutschlandfunk.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: deutschlandfunk.de
- Carola Reimann said sick notes issued by phone could prevent infections and protect medical staff.
- Regarding the COVID-19 period, Reimann said no changed sick-leave behavior by doctors or misuse had been detected.
- She called restoring the certificate requirement from the first day of illness misguided because it would tie up capacity needed for care.
- The coalition has announced plans to abolish sick notes by phone and restore the certificate requirement from the first day of illness.
The return to the obligation to provide an incapacity-to-work certificate from the first day of illness, she called nonsensical. That would tie up an incredible amount of capacity that we do not have available for patient care, according to Reimann.— Carola Reimann, chairwoman of the AOK-Bundesverband, on the idea of restoring the first-day incapacity certificate; reported by the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers
Paid articlePaywall Stricter rules for sick leave: doctor's certificate from day one - | millions of additional costs for patients and doctors
stuttgarter-zeitung.de/politik/schaerfere-regeln-bei-krankmeldungen-attest-ab-tag-eins-millionenfacher-zusatzaufwand-fuer-patienten-und-aerzte-79326263.html
Sick leave by phone is being abolished: What will apply in the future: Anyone who is ill will no longer be able to get a sick note from a doctor over the phone ...
ndr.de/telefonische-krankschreibung-wird-abgeschafft-was-kuenftig-gilt,krankmeldung114.html
The debate over sick notes continues: Warken also wants to eliminate online sick notes
n-tv.de/politik/Warken-will-auch-Online-Krankschreibungen-abschaffen-id31096189.html
Sick leave by phone is being abolished: What will apply in the future: Anyone who is ill will no longer be able to get a sick note from a doctor over the phone ...
ndr.de/telefonische-krankschreibung-wird-abgeschafft-was-kuenftig-gilt,krankmeldung114.html
Paid articlePaywall Fact check on Chancellor Merz's reform package: Are the Saxons work-shy and sick?
saechsische.de/politik/regional/faktencheck-zu-reformpaket-vom-kanzler-merz-sind-die-sachsen-arbeitsscheue-krankmacher-ODZRPJ4TAFCSNEO22MONV4P25E.html
More hurdles to sick leave: A solution to high absenteeism?: Until now, permanent employees could call in sick without having to submit a doctor's ...
br.de/nachrichten/wirtschaft/mehr-huerden-krankschreibung-mittel-gegen-hohen-krankenstand,VODrdTS
Criticism of coalition plans: DAK CEO promotes sick leave based on the Scandinavian model
n-tv.de/politik/DAK-Chef-wirbt-fuer-Krankschreibung-nach-Skandinavien-Vorbild-id31043350.html
,regionOfInterest=(2296,1185)&hash=4f7906eb4512f3390fbdffe2af7c4865f2d3cadac5fb48de0e87b386dd6c92e0)
OpinionFirst reform, then reality check? The grand coalition's madness over new sick leave rules
focus.de/politik/meinung/erst-reform-dann-realitaetscheck-der-grosse-koalitions-irrsinn-um-neue-krankschreibungs-regeln_02f5f145-6cc4-4598-9956-638308b72a7a.html
Key FactsNew Sick Leave Rules Strain German Healthcare System
Jul 3, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
- The coalition mandates a medical certificate from the first day of illness, increasing pressure on already crowded GP offices.
- Physicians advocate for requiring certificates only after the fourth or fifth day to reduce unnecessary doctor visits.
- Since 2022, digital sick notes have improved data accuracy, revealing a higher rate of short-term illnesses than previously recorded.
- Employers support the reform to tackle absenteeism, while government rejects suggestions like unpaid waiting days to discourage sick leave.
You don’t have to go to the doctor on the first day. You only need to have a certificate of incapacity to work on the first day.— Chancellor Friedrich Merz, commenting on the proposed first-day sickness-certification rule
Paid articlePaywall Federal government wants to abolish sick leave by phone: What do Regensburg doctors say about it?
mittelbayerische.de/lokales/stadt-regensburg/bundesregierung-will-telefonische-krankschreibung-abschaffen-was-sagen-regensburger-aerzte-dazu-21479360
Why things are about to get more uncomfortable for employees: Sick leave from day one, easier dismissal, and more frequent fixed-term contracts ...
stern.de/wirtschaft/krankschreibung--kuendigung--befristung--fuer-arbeitnehmer-wird-es-ungemuetlich-37636474.html
Sick leave from the first day: Health insurance chief dismantles coalition's proposal
infranken.de/deutschland/krankschreibung-ab-dem-ersten-tag-kassenchef-zerlegt-vorstoss-der-koalition-art-6375076
OpinionNew rules for sick leave: The black-red coalition burdens doctors and harasses patients
n-tv.de/politik/politik_kommentare/Schwarz-Rot-belastet-Aerzte-und-gaengelt-Patienten-id31039589.html
Paid articlePaywall General practitioners criticize new requirement for sick notes from the first day of illness
mittelhessen.de/politik/politik-deutschland/viel-kritik-an-attestpflicht-ab-dem-ersten-tag-5842623
Sick leave from day one: What the planned sick leave rules mean for general practitioners' offices
arzt-wirtschaft.de/news/au-ab-erstem-krankheitstag
Sick leave from the first day: These are the new rules you need to know now: The coalition is abolishing sick leave by phone and making a doctor's note ...
trib.al/ZR2TM21
Sick notes by phone: Government ignores expert advice: Health Minister Warken and Chancellor Merz complain about an allegedly high rate of sick leave ...
correctiv.org/aktuelles/gesundheit/2026/01/21/krankschreibungen-per-telefon-regierung-ignoriert-den-rat-von-experten/
Key FactsControversy Surrounding Phone-Based Sick Notes
Jan 20, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: swr.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: swr.de
- Health Minister Warken backs Chancellor Merz in reviewing the phone-based sick note policy.
- Physicians highlight that phone sick notes mostly cover colds and help reduce patient appointments.
- State Health Minister Lucha argues aging and mental health issues are key factors in longer sick leaves.
- Health insurer data indicate phone sick notes represent a minor fraction and average sick days are projected to decline in 2025.
The telephone sick note should be abolished.— Andreas Gassen, Chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (BKV), expresses his opinion on telephone sick notes.
Merz reaffirms his criticism of the high rate of sick leave: Are employees in Germany signed off sick too often? Yes, Chancellor Merz already stated over the ...
nordkurier.de/politik/merz-bekraeftigt-seine-kritik-an-hoehe-des-krankenstandes-4282604
Health insurance companies disagree: Merz blames high sick leave on telephone sick notes
n-tv.de/politik/Merz-schiebt-hohen-Krankenstand-auf-telefonische-Krankschreibung-id30251531.html
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