Debate about sick leave
Hubertus Heil against maternity leave: “The Germans are not lazy people”
In the dispute over the reintroduction of a waiting day for sick leave, Labor Minister Hubertus Heil has sided with the employees. He still doesn’t like blue paint.
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) opposes calls for the cancellation of continued payment of wages in the event of illness for the first day of a sick note. “Anyone who puts employees who have reported sick under general suspicion of cheating has a distorted image of the working people in this country,” Heil told the editorial network Germany (RND, Thursday editions). “The Germans are not shirkers and idlers.”
“With me and the SPD, there will be no restrictions on continued payment of wages in the event of illness,” assured the minister. In his view, a reintroduction of the so-called waiting day would particularly affect employees with low incomes. “It would hit hard the people who are actually sick and who have low wages, especially women,” warned Heil. “That’s why this is the wrong way.”
Allianz boss starts debate about sick leave
In view of the high level of sickness in Germany, the head of the insurance group Allianz, Oliver Bäte, has suggested reintroducing the so-called waiting day for sick reports. At the beginning of the week, the CEO pointed out in the “Handelsblatt” that employees in Germany are now sick for an average of 20 days a year, while the EU average is eight days of illness.
Heil told the RND that if individuals took advantage of the system, targeted action had to be taken. “I have no sympathy for Blaumacher,” emphasized the SPD politician. However, there are enough instruments to deal with suspected cases.
“An employer who suspects that someone is acting blue can demand that a certificate of incapacity for work be presented from day one,” said the Federal Labor Minister. “Anyone who is caught cheating must also expect consequences under labor law,” added Heil.
AFP
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
