According to Christian Bäumler, Vice-President of the Christian Democratic Labor Movement, the black-red coalition must retract its decision concerning a mandatory requirement for submitting sick leave certificates from day one. Speaking to the “Tagesspiegel,” Bäumler stated that he has spoken with many people who are “outraged” by the announcement of this new obligation, noting significant public resentment. He argued that the coalition should quickly drop this policy, describing it as completely unnecessary.
Bäumler suggested that this divisive issue is already undermining the positive impact of numerous other beneficial policy proposals, including those originating from the pension commission. Further arguing against the mandate, he pointed out that doctor’s waiting rooms are already overcrowded. He also asserted there is “no reason to intervene through law.” Citing Paragraph 5, Section 1, Sentence 3 of the Wage Continuation Act (Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz), Bäumler explained that this provision already allows employers to request a medical certificate even before the third day of illness, noting that this approach is often handled pragmatically in most companies.
The leadership of the federal government had reached an agreement on Wednesday evening during the Coalition Committee meeting: moving forward, the legal requirement to present a proof of incapacity to work must begin from the very first day of sickness. However, the precise structure and details of this new rule remain undetermined.
