Germany debates teacher long-term sick leave and compensation

A legal and administrative debate is unfolding in Germany regarding long-term sick leave among educators, highlighted by a case involving a teacher in Duisburg who has been on sick leave for 17 years.

The teacher, who has continued to receive her full salary and all pay increases during her absence, may be entitled to vacation compensation—a financial payout for unused leave—as she transitions into retirement. This comes amid investigations by the Duisburg Public Prosecutor's Office, which suspects the 62-year-old pedagogue of working secretly as a naturopath during her illness. While criminal prosecution for fraud may be subject to statutes of limitations, she faces potential disciplinary proceedings.

In Berlin, the issue has taken on a structural dimension. Data from the Berlin Senate indicates that as of mid-August 2026, 380 teachers had been on long-term sick leave for at least one year, consisting of 225 civil servants and 155 other employees. This has sparked discussions regarding how the public service manages the financial and organizational consequences of prolonged incapacity to work, specifically concerning the legal entitlement to compensation for unused vacation time.