{
  "id": 15863415,
  "title": "Sick Leave Report: How Employers Can Defend Themselves Against Slackers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/krankmeldung-wie-sich-arbeitgeber-gegen-blaumacher-wehren-konnen",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-21T08:20:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/karriere/krankmeldung-wie-arbeitgeber-beim-verdacht-auf-blaumachen-vorgehen-duerfen/100180160.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "In Germany, the number of sick days taken by employees remains high, with an average of 18.6 days per year from January to November 2025, according to data from Techniker Krankenkasse. A survey by Yougov found that over a quarter of employees have taken a sick day without being genuinely ill, while a study by Pronova BKK found that 60% of employees have taken a sick day despite feeling fit enough to work. Employers have limited options to address this issue, but can take action if an employee repeatedly takes sick days without a valid reason or if they suspect an employee is not genuinely ill. The Medical Service of the statutory health insurance funds can be involved to verify the authenticity of a doctor's note.",
  "summary": "From the Handelsblatt archive: An employee always calls in sick on bridge days and Mondays? These are the legal options companies have if they suspect someone is taking it easy.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}