Operations

Employer steps during an employee sick leave

When an employee reports incapacity for work, the employer side needs a sequence—not a scramble. This note outlines a consultation-friendly order of operations you can adapt to retail floors, offices, and hybrid teams in Germany.

1. Acknowledge and log

Confirm receipt of the notice, capture the start date, and route coverage for urgent tasks. Skip health speculation in any written reply.

2. Align on proof requirements

Check the applicable policy for when an AU certificate is expected. If the employee already sent one, verify the covered dates. If not, communicate the deadline without theatrical urgency.

3. Coordinate payroll early

People partners should notify payroll of the absence window so Entgeltfortzahlung handling does not wait until month-end surprises. Advisors can outline the handoff; payroll owns the figures.

4. Plan return without pressure

As the certificate end date approaches, offer a neutral check-in about capacity and workload. Pressure to return early—or to disclose a diagnosis—creates risk your consultation should prevent.

Practice these steps in our German Sick Leave Essentials course.