Germany scraps phone sick leave, requires doctor's note from day one

Germany is rolling out major economic reforms, including a significant overhaul of its sick leave policy. Starting next year, workers will be required to obtain a doctor's certificate from the very first day of illness. The change ends the existing practice that allowed employees to report sick leave over the phone without an in-person medical consultation. The government aims to reduce high workplace absenteeism and improve overall productivity. However, the reform has drawn strong pushback from trade unions and healthcare professionals, who warn of potential harm to worker rights and increased bureaucratic pressure on medical services.