After three days at the latest, employees in Germany need a sick note. Since January 1, 2023, an electronic certificate of incapacity for work (eAU) has been used completely.
If employees are on sick leave from their doctor, this is automatically forwarded to their own health insurance company. The employer does not receive any information about which doctor issued the sick note and what diagnosis was made. Anyone who takes sick leave in Germany receives full salary from their employer for at least six weeks.