incapacity for work
DGB against part-time sick leave
Should more flexibility be possible even in times of digital work if employees call in sick? A warning comes from the unions.
The German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) rejects considerations of “part-time sick leave” for a few hours a day. The idea is “simply absurd,” said board member Anja Piel of the German Press Agency. “Anyone who is sick and unable to work should recover completely. Otherwise, the risk of becoming ill for longer and more seriously increases.” Already today, far too many people went to work sick or worked from home while sick. “You endanger yourself and others and endanger your long-term health and ability to work.”
In view of the change in the working world and digitalization, Medical President Klaus Reinhardt was open to “a practical form of part-time sick leave for a few hours a day”. This could take the new possibilities into account and provide more flexibility, the head of the German Medical Association told the newspapers of the Funke media group. For example, in the case of minor infections, direct contact with colleagues in the office should be avoided. “In such cases, working from home may offer the opportunity to carry out limited professional tasks and still recover.”
Workforces with longer periods of sickness
DGB board member Piel warned that the demographic factor must also be taken into account. “Aging workforces with more employees retiring later are likely to have longer periods of sickness compared to younger workforces.” The right answer to this is more company health care, age-appropriate workplaces and good rehabilitation measures so that illnesses do not worsen or even become chronic. “Smart employers have long understood this and have set the course for it.”
The German Social Association also expressed its opposition to part-time sick leave, which does not offer sufficient opportunity for recovery. “We fear that enforcing the shortened working hours would fall to the employees and that this would put unnecessary pressure on sick people,” said CEO Michaela Engelmeier. The impact on regulations on continued payment of wages is also unclear. Of course, the advantage of working from home is that you can work from home in the event of minor infections and desk work. But you shouldn’t discredit home office work based on the motto that you can work there while sick or half-sick. “That’s just not the case.”
dpa
Source: Stern
