Federal Medical Association President Klaus Reinhardt. /picture alliance, Michael Kappeler
Berlin There has been a debate about telephone sick leave for weeks. The medical profession has spoken out in favor of it, but business representatives and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) would like to abolish the instrument. The Federal Medical Association (BK) is now proposing part-time sick leave.
The world of work has changed significantly in recent years, particularly due to digitalization and the possibility of working from home, said BK President Klaus Reinhardt German medical journal.
Nevertheless, in the healthcare system a fundamental distinction is still made between ability to work and inability to work. A practical form of part-time sick leave for a few hours a day could take the new possibilities into account and provide more flexibility, emphasized the BK boss.
It pointed out that Germany had had good experiences with reintegration programs after long periods of illness, in which working hours were gradually increased. In his opinion, these experiences could certainly be transferred to less serious illnesses.
Reinhardt cites minor infections as an example, where direct contact with colleagues in the office should be avoided. In such cases, working from home may offer the opportunity to carry out professional tasks to a limited extent and still recover, he said.
It is, of course, clear that the well-being and safe recovery of the sick must always come first. © dpa/afp/aerzteblatt.de
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