A recent Forsa survey commissioned by the magazines Stern and RTL reveals that a majority of Germans oppose the planned requirement for employees to submit a doctor’s certificate starting from the first day of illness. Specifically, 55 percent of the general population considers this measure incorrect, while 44 percent view it as fundamentally sound. One percent could not answer. This sentiment is mirrored among working employees.
However, significant differences are evident between generational groups: while a majority of older individuals find the mandatory submission of a “yellow slip” from the first day of sickness acceptable, people under the age of 45 strongly reject the measure.
The debate stems from the government coalition’s recent package containing 34 reforms aimed at restructuring labor, pensions, and taxes. One proposal drawing intense discussion is the requirement for employees to provide a medical certificate to their superiors from day one of illness. The CDU/CSU and SPD argue that this reform is necessary to lower the perceived high rate of sick leave in Germany compared to international standards, where workers take between 15 and 20 sick days annually. Additionally, the proposal also involves abolishing the possibility of reporting sickness via telephone, a feature introduced in 2023.
Criticism is particularly strong from medical associations. Opponents fear an increased burden on general practitioners and warn of crowded waiting rooms filled with people suffering from the flu. Furthermore, studies indicate that the telephone reporting of sickness is not the root cause of the high sick day count. Rather, statistics have become inflated because all notifications are now electronically collected.
Political alignment shows a clear split regarding the sickness certificate reform. Support for the change is strongest among CDU/CSU supporters, reported at 69 percent. Conversely, the change is mostly rejected by supporters of opposition parties, especially the Greens and The Left. Supporters of the SPD are divided equally on the matter.
