Sick days are days when employees cannot work because of illness. In Germany, the Continued Remuneration Act applies: up to six weeks per illness, employees receive full continued pay, provided the employment has lasted more than four weeks. After that, statutory health insurance covers sickness benefit (Krankengeld), paid for up to 78 weeks within three years for the same illness.
Notice of illness must reach the employer on the first day. An incapacity certificate ("gelber Schein") has been digital for statutory health insurance members since 2023 – the insurer transmits it electronically. For privately insured employees, the paper document remains relevant.
Sick days are not holiday: anyone seriously ill during their leave who can prove it through a medical certificate gets those days credited back. Frequent short-term sickness may trigger return-to-work conversations – these are voluntary but should be used constructively.
Lunigi indirectly supports candidates by curating roles with strong social protection – in the public sector and collectively agreed environments, sick-pay arrangements are particularly robust.