Overview

• KBV chair Andreas Gassen urges making medical certificates obligatory only from the fourth or fifth day of illness.
• He argues the change would eliminate many short attestations, saving about 1.4 million work hours or roughly €100 million.
• Employer groups including Niedersachsenmetall and the BDA denounce the idea, warning of misuse and higher burdens on companies.
• No rule has changed: a certificate is still due on the fourth day after more than three calendar days off, and employers may require it earlier.
• Telephone and retroactive sick notes remain available under set limits, with phone AUs typically up to five days and retroactive certification up to three.