Woof woof (and meow)!
1. June 2022
Finally, a home of my own!
14. June 2022Woof woof (and meow)!
1. June 2022Finally, a home of my own!
14. June 2022
Full pay even when you're sick!
Every working person has been there: you wake up in the morning and don't feel well (headache, nausea, fever). You notify your employer and go to the doctor. Because of an infection, the doctor puts you on sick leave for a few days; you don’t have to worry about your pay in this case, because your employer will continue to pay your wages for up to 6 weeks.
However, if you’re unable to work for an extended period—due to, for example, surgery or rehabilitation—this can easily last longer than 6 weeks. Here’s how the entire process works: Your boss deposits your salary into your bank account as usual each month, which covers your fixed expenses. If your illness lasts no more than 6 weeks, you will continue to receive 100% of your salary. Colloquially, this is referred to as “continued pay.” If you are absent for longer than these “magic” 6 weeks, your employer is no longer obligated to pay you your full salary. This is where your statutory health insurance comes into play; you’ll receive a maximum of 78% of your last net salary for an additional 72 weeks from your statutory health insurance provider.
And that already leaves a shortfall of 22% from the usual 100%. But fixed costs (rent, groceries, electricity…) remain constant; there’s no percentage reduction here… This automatically creates what’s known as a “shortfall” for the employee, which can quickly put them and their family in a difficult financial situation.
To ensure a smoother recovery, certain products have been developed to bridge the gap in coverage. Products such as daily sickness benefits cover the difference between the employee’s regular salary and the amount provided by statutory health insurance. This allows the employee to continue receiving 100% of their salary and cover their normal living expenses.