Employees are entitled to sick pay from their employers for a period of up to 6 weeks for the same illness; available to all employees who have completed 4 weeks of service.

The amount is essentially equal to the employee’s usual remuneration, but without overtime pay and certain expenses.

Employees are obliged to obtain a medical certificate for any inability to work that lasts more than 3 calendar days; however, an employer may ask for such a certificate to be obtained from the first day.

If six weeks have expired and the employee continues to be sick, an employee who is a member of the statutory health insurance system is entitled to sick pay from his or her health insurance provider for a maximum period of 72 additional weeks. This sick pay amounts to 70% of the employee’s gross pay, but no more than 90% of the employee’s net pay, in each case up to the contribution assessment ceiling in the statutory health insurance system.