CDU calls for end to telephone sick notes - CDU votes to end phone sick notes, citing abuse and productivity concerns

The CDU has voted to scrap notes for calling in sick, claiming they make it too easy for employees to find my phone work. Chancellor and party leader Friedrich Merz criticised high absence rates and questioned the reliability of such certificates. The decision came at the party's conference in Stuttgart this week.

The proposal was put forward by the Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion, the CDU's business wing. Delegates backed the motion, arguing that phonesick notes encourage unnecessary absences. They believe face-to-face doctor visits should be mandatory for medical certificates.

Health Minister Nina Warken has now agreed to examine the current rules. Her review will assess whether phone sick notes should remain an option for employees. The CDU's push follows concerns that the system is being abused, though no recent data confirms a rise in phone sick notes over the past five years.

Critics of the practice say it weakens trust between employers and staff. Merz has repeatedly highlighted high sickness rates as a problem for businesses. The party's stance reflects broader worries about workplace productivity and accountability.

The CDU's vote sets the stage for potential changes to sick leave rules. If the government acts on the proposal, employees may soon need in-person doctor visits for all medical certificates. The outcome of Warken's review will determine the next steps.