{
  "id": 435191,
  "title": "Questions from employment law: Off sick: Can the boss demand a handover?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/fragen-aus-dem-arbeitsrecht-krankgeschrieben-kann-der-chef-eine",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-10T03:42:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/fragen-aus-dem-arbeitsrecht-krankgeschrieben-kann-der-chef-eine-uebergabe-fordern/100246125.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Illness usually comes as a surprise - and always when it's not needed. So that colleagues can take over in this case, it helps if a handover takes place. But can the boss demand that it be done from the sickbed? \"If a handover is physically possible for the employee in question, then the employer can certainly demand it,\" explains Johannes Schipp, a specialist lawyer for labor law.\n\nFor example, if the person who is ill is lying in bed with a fever, a handover would not be reasonable. On the other hand, it can be demanded of an employee with a broken arm. However, it must always be decided on a case-by-case basis whether a handover is reasonable.\n\nNormal work performance must not be demanded\n\nEven if basically simple handover tasks can be demanded, provided they are physically reasonable, they must not be too extensive. This excludes complicated or multi-hour processes.\n\nEmployees who are unable to work must not do anything that could impair their recovery, according to the specialist lawyer.\n\nFor example, even if requested, those who are off work due to illness do not have to create extensive written documentation or participate in video conferences.\n\nAbout the person:\nJohannes Schipp is a specialist lawyer for labor law, a member of the German Bar Association (DAV) and was chairman of the Executive Committee of the DAV's Labor Law Working Group until 2021.",
  "summary": "If someone is certified as unable to work due to illness, they are considered incapable of working - can a handover still be requested from me?",
  "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."
}