German Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) has rejected the proposal by Allianz CEO Oliver Bäte to stop paying sick leave for the first day of a sick leave. “Who puts employees on sick leave under general suspicion of malingering has a distorted view of working people in this country” Heil told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Thursday editions).
“The Germans are not slackers and idlers” the labor minister continued. “I and the SPD will not give in to reducing sick pay in the event of illness.”
Especially low-wage employees would suffer under the reintroduction of the “Karenztage” (waiting period before sick pay kicks in), Heil warned. “It would hit hard the people who are truly ill and have a low wage, especially women” the social democrat said. “That’s the wrong approach.”
If individuals abuse the system, it’s necessary to take targeted action, Heil demanded. “I have no understanding for malingering” he explained. But there were sufficient instruments to deal with suspicion of malingering. “An employer who suspects malingering can also demand the submission of a fitness-for-work certificate from the first day” the SPD politician said. “Anyone caught malingering must also reckon with labor law consequences.