Overview
- A regional labour court upheld an immediate dismissal after finding an employee submitted a certificate generated from an online questionnaire without any doctor contact, because the paper gave the impression of a physician examination.
- A separate labour court ruled that a properly issued sick note keeps strong probative weight and that employers must present concrete, specific facts to prove an employee simulated illness.
- A social‑insurance court ordered a health insurer to pay sick‑pay (Krankengeld) after finding a change in the claimant’s insurance/status meant earlier psychiatric certificates did not block a new claim for later acute physical illnesses.
- New federal legislation taking effect in 2027 shortens the window to file a rehabilitation (Reha) application from ten weeks to four weeks, which can trigger temporary suspension of Krankengeld if missed.
- A Grade of Disability (GdB) of 50 legally opens extra workplace protections and tax and pension benefits, and the pension authority says retrospective GdB recognition can lead to a higher, recalculated pension.