Waiting Day - Meaning

A waiting day refers to a day of illness during which an employee is officially on sick leave but does not receive continued pay. Only after this initial period does continued remuneration from the employer or sick pay from the statutory health insurance begin.

Waiting days internationally: How other countries regulate them

A look at other countries shows that waiting days are implemented in different ways (Quelle: Focus online):

Sweden
Employees do not receive pay on the first day of illness. From the second day onward, the employer pays around 80 percent of the salary.
Denmark
Continued pay during illness is largely regulated through collective agreements. In many cases, waiting days apply to short-term illnesses.
United Kingdom
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) only applies from the fourth day of illness. The first three days are considered unpaid waiting days.
Ireland
There is generally no obligation for employers to provide continued pay. Instead, employees may receive state sick pay after a waiting period.
Austria
Similar to Germany, employees are entitled to continued pay from the first day of illness.

These examples show that waiting days vary significantly across countries and are often shaped by economic, cultural and legal frameworks.

Advantages and disadvantages of waiting days in Germany

The debate about introducing waiting days has gained renewed attention in recent years. While some employers support the idea, others – especially employee representatives – strongly oppose it.

Advantages of waiting days

✔ Reduced absenteeism
Waiting days could potentially reduce short-term absences, particularly so-called “blue days”.

✔ Lower costs for employers
Companies would be financially relieved if they did not have to immediately pay for every sick day.

✔ Alignment with international practices
Many European countries already have waiting days, so Germany could align its system more closely with international standards.

Disadvantages of waiting days

❌ Financial burden for employees
Low-income workers in particular could suffer from losing a day’s salary.

❌ Health risks through presenteeism
Employees might come to work despite being ill, which could increase the spread of illness and lead to higher long-term sick leave.

❌ Legal challenges
Introducing waiting days would require adjustments to existing labour laws regarding sick leave and wage continuation.

Economic impact and industry perspectives

The economic impact of waiting days in Germany is widely debated. Companies might benefit in the short term, but long-term productivity effects remain uncertain.

Industry-specific risks

Healthcare and nursing
Employees might feel pressured to work while sick, which could increase long-term absence rates.

Logistics and production
Workforce pressure could increase due to additional absences.

Office-based jobs
The impact might be lower, as remote work can provide an alternative.

On the other hand, some companies argue that waiting days could reduce unnecessary sick leave if employees only report sick when they are genuinely ill.

Conclusion: Does Germany need waiting days?

Currently, Germany has no statutory waiting days, but the debate about their potential introduction continues. While companies could benefit from lower wage costs, significant risks remain – particularly for employees. For now, Germany’s system of continued pay during illness has proven relatively stable without waiting days.

Whether this system will remain unchanged or evolve toward international models is something that will likely continue to be discussed in the future.