Overview

• KBV chair Andreas Gassen suggests making medical certificates obligatory only from the fourth or fifth day of illness.
• German law currently requires a certificate after three calendar days, but employers may demand documentation earlier.
• The KBV cites roughly 116 million sick notes issued annually, saying more than one third cover three days or fewer.
• Employer federation BDA, via chief Steffen Kampeter, rejects a blanket extension of the waiting period as a burden that fails to address structural issues.
• Telephone-based certificates remain allowed for up to five days, and commentary predicts Health Minister Nina Warken will likely exclude the KBV idea from her savings package.