Sick Leave Rules in Europe: How Germany Compares to Its Neighbours

Introduction

If you have ever called in sick in Germany and wondered whether the process would be the same back home, you are not alone. Sick leave rules — how quickly you must report illness, who pays during your absence, and for how long — vary enormously across European countries. For expats living in Germany, understanding this comparative picture is useful both for navigating your own rights and for making sense of ongoing policy debates happening right now in the German coalition government.

This article breaks down how several major European countries handle sick leave and explains what Germany's current framework looks like alongside its neighbours.

How Germany Currently Handles Sick Leave

In Germany, employees who fall ill are entitled to continued pay (Entgeltfortzahlung) from their employer for up to six weeks, starting from the first day of absence. After six weeks, the statutory health insurance (Krankenversicherung) takes over with sick pay (Krankengeld), typically around 70% of gross salary, for up to 78 weeks over a rolling three-year period.

You are required to notify your employer of your illness as soon as possible — ideally on the first day. A medical certificate (Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung, or AU) is currently required from the third day of absence at the latest, though individual employment contracts can require it from day one. As of 2023, most certificates are transmitted digitally from your doctor directly to your health insurer and employer.

This system is widely regarded as one of the more generous in Europe, but it is also under increasing political scrutiny, with the current coalition discussing potential reforms.

How Other European Countries Compare

France operates a three-day waiting period (délai de carence) for most private-sector employees — meaning you receive no sick pay at all for the first three days of illness. State employees have traditionally had no waiting period, though this has been a point of political contention. After the waiting period, Social Security covers 50% of your reference daily salary, with top-ups often provided by collective agreements.

Italy takes a notably different approach to enforcement: home-visit checks (visite fiscali) by medical inspectors are legally permitted to verify that an employee claiming sick leave is genuinely at home and unwell during certain hours of the day. Payment during illness depends on sector and seniority, and is partially covered by the national social security institute (INPS).

The Netherlands is one of the most employer-obligated systems in Europe: employers must pay at least 70% of salary for up to two full years of illness, which places a considerable financial burden on businesses.

Spain has a four-day waiting period before Social Security kicks in, with employers covering days four to fifteen and the state taking over from day sixteen.

Sweden and Denmark are known for generous systems with short or no waiting periods, high replacement rates, and strong union-negotiated supplementary payments.

The United Kingdom, now outside the EU, pays Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) of just £116.75 per week (as of 2025) from day four of illness — one of the lowest rates among comparable economies.

What This Means in Practice for Expats

If you have moved to Germany from France, Spain or the UK, Germany's first-day employer-paid entitlement will likely feel like a significant improvement. If you have arrived from the Netherlands or Scandinavia, the six-week employer-paid cap followed by reduced Krankengeld may represent a step down from what you are used to.

For expats on fixed-term contracts or in their probationary period (Probezeit), it is worth noting that sick pay rights in Germany still apply from your first day of employment — there is no service length requirement to qualify for Entgeltfortzahlung, though the six-week entitlement resets per illness episode.

Always check your individual employment contract and any applicable collective agreement (Tarifvertrag), as these can both restrict and expand on the statutory baseline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a doctor's note from day one in Germany?

By law, you must provide a medical certificate (AU) from the fourth calendar day of illness at the latest. However, your employer's contract or works agreement may require one from day one. Check your contract carefully. Since 2023, certificates are sent digitally by your GP to your Krankenversicherung; you no longer need to hand a paper copy to your employer in most cases.

Am I paid during sick leave as a part-time or mini-job worker in Germany?

Part-time employees have the same Entgeltfortzahlung rights as full-time workers, proportional to their working hours. Mini-jobbers (earning up to €556/month in 2025) are also entitled to continued pay, but because they typically do not pay into the statutory Krankenversicherung, they do not receive Krankengeld after the six-week employer period. If you are a mini-jobber, check whether you have private health cover that includes sick pay.

What happens if I get sick while still in my probationary period?

Your right to Entgeltfortzahlung begins on your first day of employment — but only after four continuous weeks of employment. If you fall ill within the first four weeks, your employer is not legally required to pay, and you would need to rely on your Krankenversicherung's short-term benefits.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Germany's sick leave framework is comparatively generous, especially in terms of employer-funded continuation pay. As a expat, knowing where Germany sits in the European picture helps you make informed decisions — whether you are negotiating a new contract, planning a career move within Europe, or simply trying to understand your rights.

Keep an eye on upcoming German policy changes: the coalition is actively debating reforms that could affect the AU system. We will report on confirmed changes as they are officially adopted.

Source: Tagesschau