As of: February 11, 2024, 3:40 p.m
By: Carina Blumenroth
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You would prefer to avoid a full waiting room, but you need a sick note from the doctor.
This also works without a visit on site.
What you need to consider.
The cough is bothersome, the nose is running, the limbs are aching: you are sick and need a sick note for work.
But you can't manage to drag yourself into the practice and into the full waiting room.
What options do you have to get a sick note more conveniently?
Sick note without a doctor’s visit – via video consultation
A sick note via video call is possible.
If you are known to the practice, there are seven calendar days at most.
© Peopleimage/Pond5/Imago
If your illness can be assessed via video consultation, it is possible that the doctor will give you a sick note.
However, this only applies to the initial certificate, informs the
National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV)
.
The patient is... |
Length of sick note |
|---|---|
unknown in practice. |
Sick leave for up to three calendar days |
known in practice. |
Sick leave for up to seven calendar days |
It is important, however, that you are not entitled to take sick leave.
As with a visit to the practice, the doctor will decide whether you are unable to work.
If you have been on sick leave and are not yet fit when your sick note expires, you should visit the practice and have this clarified.
You will not receive a follow-up certificate via video.
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When you need a doctor's note depends on your employer; some require it if you miss a day.
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If in doubt, be careful when taking online sick notes
There are various providers who can issue a sick note easily and conveniently.
You click through a few questions about your health and symptoms and, depending on the evaluation, you will receive a sick note or a referral to a specialist.
In some cases there is a video call.
However, this was an employee's downfall, reports the
Haufe
portal .
An employee reported sick via online sick leave, but that wasn't enough for the employer.
The case went to court, and in the summer of 2021 the Berlin Labor Court decided that “an online sick note without personal or telephone contact with a doctor does not meet the requirements for a certificate of incapacity for work,” said
Haufe
.
As a result, the employee has lost his right to continued payment of wages in the event of illness.
Sick note by phone is coming back
You could get a sick note by telephone until March 31, 2023.
This option was introduced to relieve the burden on practices and patients during the corona pandemic.
The
federal government
has announced that telephone sick leave should become permanent.
Guidelines are now being drawn up and the Federal Joint Committee has until the beginning of 2024 to do so.
So far it is clear that telephone sick leave should apply to minor illnesses, such as mild flu-like infections.
The
federal government
also points out that sick leave via telephone only applies to patients who are known to the practice.