Too Unwell to Work? How to Get a Sick Note

Cold and flu season got you down? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. 

In 2023, German employees reported sick for 20 days a year on average.

If you’ve got a fever or are too tired to focus on your tasks, then it’s probably best to stay home. (Your coworkers will thank you!)

But what if you’re sick enough to miss several days of work in a row? 

Then you’ll likely need to get an Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung (a sick note, a.k.a. AU-Schein or Krankschreibung) from your doctor. 

So when exactly do you need a sick note? And how do you get one? 

Let’s find out.

How to get sick note (and take sick days) in Germany

These are the key steps to take if you are too unwell to work in Germany.

1. Inform your employer as soon as possible

You should file a notice of illness with your employer (“Krankmeldung”) as soon as you know you’ll be absent from work. This can be done digitally (e.g., over email). 

You should include the time you expect to be out of the office. 

For example, you might email your boss and say, “I’m feeling under the weather today and won’t be able to work. I hope to be back in the office tomorrow.”

2. Determine if you need a sick note

A sick note confirms that your illness is severe enough to warrant missing work. In other words, it proves you weren’t just playing hooky. 

Most German employers to require a sick note from the third or fourth day of illness.

Weekends count toward the four (or three)-day rule.

So, if you call out of work on Friday, you’ll need to present a doctor’s note if you’re still sick on Monday.

However, German law states employers can request a sick note as early as the first day of illness. Some employers even write such clauses into employee contracts, so make sure you know (or ask about) your workplace’s policy.

During your probation period, especially in the first month, you always get a sick note, regardless of how long you’ll be sick. This will build trust between you and your employer.

3. Get a sick note (if your employer asks)

You could get one without visiting a doctor’s office, by using a specialised service like:

• TeleClinic
• AU-Schein.de
• Doktor.de

If you’re privately insured, your provider may offer free concierge services. At Feather, we provide video consultations with English-speaking doctors all over Germany.

4. Send the sick note to your employer

Since 2023, employers in Germany no longer require employees to submit a physical sick note. Employers can now obtain a digital sick note (eAU) directly from the employee’s health insurer.

However, if you’re privately insured or your employer hasn’t fully adopted the digital system, some may still require a physical sick note. 

Check with your HR or employer to see if you need to submit one in person or by mail.

5. Rest, and recover

If you have a sick note, you have the right to take sick leave, and your employer cannot refuse.

When you’re on sick leave, you are not required to work. This means: 

• no meetings
• no emails
• no need to be online.

Your employer must respect this unless they have urgent questions.

You don’t have to stay at home while on sick leave either. You’re free to do things that don’t affect your recovery. 

For example, if you’re off work due to a broken arm, you can still meet friends for coffee or go shopping. If you’re sick with something like burnout or depression, you can engage in activities that help you feel better (sports, travel, etc.).

Always check with your doctor if you’re unsure about what activities are allowed while you’re on sick leave.

Sick leave: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still get paid while on sick leave?

Yes, but the payment process depends on the length of your sick leave and your type of health insurance.

For the first 6 weeks (42 days):
Your employer will continue to pay your full salary, covering only the days you would normally be working. However, if you’re injured while engaging in risky activities—like mountain biking—you may not qualify for paid sick leave.

After 6 weeks:
If you have public health insurance, you’ll receive sick pay (Krankengeld) at 70% of your gross salary, capped at €120.75 per day.

For those with private health insurance, sick pay is only provided if you have income protection insurance. At Feather, this is automatically included in your policy, ensuring you’re covered if illness prevents you from working.

After 78 weeks (within a 3-year period):
You will need to contact the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) and apply for disability benefits, as income protection payments end after this period.

Does my employer need to know why I’m sick?

You are under no obligation to discuss personal health matters with your boss, and your sick note won’t include the reason for your absence—it will only say that you are unable to work. However, if you know in advance that you’ll be out of office for awhile (e.g. due to a surgery), you’ll want to give your employer some warning. 

This can be as non-specific as “I’m having surgery and I’ll be out of the office for a week from [DATE].” 

Can I take as many sick days as I want?

During the probation period:

If you’re still in your probation period, your employer can let you go without giving a reason. While you’re allowed to take sick days, taking too many could lead to them ending your contract. Employers may see excessive absences during this time as a red flag.

After the probation period:

Once you’re past the probation period, the situation changes. Your employer can’t penalize you just for taking sick days. However, if you end up taking more than 30 sick days in a year, there are certain conditions where they might be able to fire you.

1. Proof your condition won’t improve: Your employer has to show that your health issue is long-term and won’t get better.
2. Your absence impacts the company: They need to explain how your absence affects the business in a negative way, like causing delays or extra work for others.
3. No other options available: They must prove that they’ve looked for other solutions, like offering reduced hours or a different role, and found none that work.

Abusing sick leave:

You could lose your job if you take sick leave when you’re not really sick. 

For example, if you claim to be sick but are spotted at a nightclub, it’s called “misuse,” and employers frown upon it.

Can I stay at home when my child is sick?

Yes, if your child gets sick, you can take time off work to care for them. This is allowed under the Children’s Sickness Benefits Act in Germany.

You’ll need a doctor to confirm your child’s illness and that they need care. Once the doctor provides a medical certificate, statutory health insurance will cover your benefits during this time.

Each parent has the right to stay home for up to 30 days per year per child. If you’re both taking turns, you can combine these days, giving you a total of 60 days per child per year. If you’re a single parent, you’re entitled to 60 days per year for each child.

If you have more than one child, the limits are a little different. Each parent can take up to 65 days per year, with a combined total of 130 days for both parents. Single parents in this case can also take up to 130 days per year.

There are a few important conditions to qualify for this leave:

• The child must be younger than 12 years old, unless they have a disability and need special care.
• A medical certificate from a doctor is necessary.
• No one else in the household should be able to care for the child during this time.

In short, if your child is sick and needs your care, you can legally stay home, as long as these conditions are met.

Still looking for German health insurance? We can help.