High sick leave threatens regional companies - IHK raises the alarm!

High sick leave threatens regional companies - IHK raises the alarm!

Currently, the regional economy is under enormous pressure in view of historically high sick leave. During a meeting of the IHK regional assembly Memmingen and Unterallgäu, the dramatic effects of this development were discussed in detail. IHK regional chairwoman Andrea Thoma-Böck emphasized that sick leave among the AOK members has already reached 225 incapacity for work per 100 members in the first eight months of this year. This is also exacerbated by the acute shortage of skilled workers, which presents the companies with great challenges, such as Allgäu hit reported.

telephone sick leave under fire

A central topic of the discussion was the telephone sick leave. This regulation, originally introduced during the Corona pandemic to relieve the health system, is now viewed critically. Thoma-Böck emphasized that the telephone sick leave causes significant organizational problems for companies, since confidence in employees suffers from potential abuse of the regulation. Dr. Albert Schultz from Magnet-Schultz urgently called for a return to reliable processes, since the current regulation massively difficult. However, the telephone sick leave remains possible for up to five days, as in IHK Munich

In addition, employees must inform their employer immediately in the event of illness and can use different means of communication. The obligation to provide information is already on the first day of the disease. If the incapacity to work lasts for more than three days, a medical certificate is required. In the course of the digital transformation, the electronic disability certificate will be mandatory from January 2023, which redesigns the transmission process. This innovation combined with the telephone sick leave ensures even more confusion among employers who demand clarity and reliability in this critical period.