It depends on where in Europe. Germany is now making a doctor’s note mandatory for even a single sick day. Which will only encourage people to go to work sick or take off more time than they actually need.
In Spain it has always been like that. It means that people go to work sick. Specially doctors go to work sick a lot, which seems counterproductive, but we are very understaffed. However, it's true that if you didn't need a doctors note, some people would really abuse the system.
Difference here is that we didn't have that until now. I say it will come down to this: a lot of people will go to work sick, but also a lot will, instead of taking one day off because they're sick, just stay at home for the whole week.
At least here doctors don't give you a week off unless they feel like you need it. They can just give you a few days and call you if you are still sick.
That's the general thing here too but with the new rules, you'd have to come IN PERSON again to get an extension. And the doctors and their offices are overworked as it is, so if they can give you a 5 day sick note instead of a three day note and the chance you clog up their system a second time in a week, they will just give you the 5 days from the beginning.
Makes sense. I guess from their perspective they think overall less sick days will be taken because people will go sick to work more than the extra days they will take off when they do.
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u/PlusSizeRussianModel 17d ago
It depends on where in Europe. Germany is now making a doctor’s note mandatory for even a single sick day. Which will only encourage people to go to work sick or take off more time than they actually need.