How do I call in sick?

The change for 2023 concerns the certificate of incapacity for work

Created: 01/12/2023, 20:30

By: Anne Hund

As of this year, numerous employees no longer have to present their employer with a certificate of incapacity for work.

This happens electronically.

Everyone knows it: You lie flat with a headache or fever and would prefer to have peace and quiet.

Nevertheless, it is important that you report sick to your employer as soon as possible.

Many companies also require a certificate of incapacity to work from the fourth day of illness, and some much earlier - the employment contract may state, for example, that a certificate is required from the first or second day.

Report incapacity: This is how the new eAU procedure works

Numerous employees now have to take note of an important innovation with regard to the AU: as of this year, employees with statutory insurance no longer have to submit a certificate.

After reporting sick, employers instead call up the incapacity data electronically from the health insurance companies.

The whole thing is called the eAU procedure.

"e" for "electronic", "AU" for "incapacity for work".

The sick note goes digitally from the doctor to the cash register, where the employer retrieves it.

Important: The new regulation does not apply to privately insured people - they must submit the health insurance certificate to both the health insurance company and the employer as usual.

As with the yellow note, the employer does not find out anything about the diagnosis or the findings with the eAU procedure.

© Fleig/Eibner-Pressefoto/Imago

What also remains: People with statutory health insurance must, as before, go to the doctor in good time so that he can create the necessary AU.

Employees should also be able to receive a paper version of the AU as usual – for their own records if they so wish.

The German Press Agency (dpa) reported on this with a view to the reform, citing the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV).

The name of the doctor can also be found on it.

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Sick call: When do you have to call in sick?

Nothing changes when it comes to reporting sick: As always, make sure that you report sick to your employer in person before starting work or – as employment lawyers explain – during the first few hours of work.

You should also tell him at the same time how long you expect to be absent from work.

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What else do you have to consider when reporting sick?

Each company also has its own regulations that you must observe when reporting sick.

For example, it may have been agreed in the company that if you become ill you will contact a certain person or department in the company by email or telephone.

And that you inform your boss or colleagues who may take over some tasks from you during your inability to work, for example in the form of a handover email about the current status.

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.