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When the bacteria attack, it is not a particularly good idea to just stay in bed inactive. But it is also not recommended, especially in corona times, to drag yourself to the office sick. As an employee, it is your legal obligation to report sick properly and correctly. There is often a lack of clarity about how, when and in what form sick leave must be received by the employer. We tell you how to register correctly – and what is important.
If you notice after waking up that you are unable to work due to health reasons, you should contact your employer directly. The means of communication is primarily based on company guidelines: Is the use of a specific communication medium – such as the telephone – intended for this case? If so, you should definitely comply with this requirement. When it comes to the wording itself, you should concentrate on the essential things – whether in writing or orally.
Example wording for a sick report:
“Hello, this is XY. Unfortunately I have to report sick for today and therefore I am not able to work. I will see a doctor as soon as possible and report back afterwards with the information about how long I will be absent.”
The essential information in this example that is important is the information you give your employer:
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You inform the employer that you are absent for the day due to illness.
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You inform the employer that you intend to see a doctor and will submit a corresponding certificate.
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You inform the employer that you are reporting back with information about your downtime – which makes it clear that you know your duties as an employer and take them seriously.
The question of whether you are accountable to your employer, which illness specifically restricts your ability to work, can be answered with a clear and clear answer – with no. You are under no obligation to inform your company of the type of illness you have.
You should only inform your company if you have been infected with a highly contagious disease such as corona – in the interests of your colleagues.
As already described, it is up to your employer to choose the form in which you want to report sick. If there is no fixed regulation, you have the choice – and theoretically you can not only report sick by phone or email, but even via WhatsApp.
However, you should bear in mind that a sick report by telephone is always the most authentic solution, since this creates personal contact. In addition, there may be delays in delivery in the written communication, which in extreme cases could lead to a warning.
If the company does not have an explicit regulation, the Continued Pay Payment Act (EFZG) applies. It says that workers are obliged to report their incapacity to work immediately. For you, this means that you should report to the employer before you go to the doctor.
According to the EFZG, a medical certificate must be presented in the event of incapacity to work that exceeds three calendar days. The emphasis here is on calendar days – this means that Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are included in this calculation.
The following also applies here: confirmed by a BGH judgment, the employer can enforce its own regulations and, under certain circumstances, request a medical certificate – or a health certificate – from the first day of illness.
Those who fall ill during their vacation are of course not simply “unlucky”, but should in any case report to the employer. After all, an illness has very little to do with recovery. Sick days that occur during a planned absence cannot be counted towards annual leave according to the Federal Vacation Law. You will get these “lost” days credited to your holiday account again. Conversely, this also means, of course, that days that have been credited again must be properly applied for again.
If your vacation illness occurs abroad, the EFZG takes effect: in this case, you are obliged to inform your employer on the first day of illness about the expected duration of your absence and to leave contact details via which you can be reached.