Can your employer refuse or reject your sick leave?

In order to prevent your employer from refusing to accept sick leave or saying that he/she did not receive your sick note, you must be able to prove that you have fulfilled your obligations. It is important that you can prove that you called in sick and handed in your certificate of incapacity to work. This is why you need to call in sick in writing and send your certificate of incapacity to work to your employer by scan (e-mail) or recorded delivery.

Important: Your employer must accept your sick note.

If you are ill and unable to work, you do not have to go to work. If you are ill and do not feel fit for work, this does not automatically mean that you have to go to the doctor immediately. The important thing is that you inform your employer straight away.

You should know what it says in your employment contract or collective agreement and as from which point you have to submit a certificate of incapacity to work. If nothing special is regulated, the following applies: You must have a sick note on the 4th calendar day at the latest. If your employment contract or collective agreement stipulates that you must have a certificate of incapacity to work on the first day, you must go to the doctor on the first day of your illness.