CDU calls for end to telephone sick notes - Germany's CDU targets phone sick notes to curb workplace absences

Germany's CDU party has pushed for stricter rules on sick leave certificates. At a recent conference in Stuttgart, delegates backed a motion to end phone sick notes, arguing they encourage unnecessary absences. The debate has now drawn in both Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Health Minister Nina Warken.

The proposal came from the Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion, a group representing small and medium-sized businesses. They claim that allowing employees to obtain sick notes over the call—without seeing a doctor—leads to more absences. Critics call this the 'bedside decision', where workers may stay home without genuine medical need.

Chancellor Merz has openly questioned the system's validity. He argued that high sickness absence rates harm productivity and suggested the current rules are too lenient. Health Minister Warken, also from the CDU, responded by announcing a review of the phone sick note regulation.

So far, there is no sign that Germany's discussion has affected similar policies in other European countries. The CDU's February 2026 push to abolish the practice remains a domestic issue for now.

The CDU's motion now sets the stage for potential changes to how sick leave is verified. If the review leads to stricter rules, employees could soon need in-person doctor visits for all medical certificates. The outcome may also influence future debates on workplace absence policies across Europe.