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Tesla Cuts Sick Leave at German Plant to About 5%, Scrutinizes Sick-Pay Claims

The new low reflects incentives alongside tighter sick‑pay checks, drawing union warnings about German labor law.

Overview

  • Tesla says the sick‑leave rate at its Grünheide factory is now about 5 percent, down from roughly 15 to 17 percent in 2024.
  • The company credits an attendance bonus and expanded on‑site options like sports facilities and a gym for improving attendance.
  • Reporting shows Tesla now reviews a small double‑digit number of continued‑wage cases each month once the six‑week statutory sick‑pay period ends.
  • In some disputes the company asks workers to show whether an absence is a continuation of the same illness and to release doctors from confidentiality.
  • IG Metall says Tesla questions medical certificates and withholds or threatens to stop sick pay in many cases, while labor lawyers describe a narrow legal gray area where employers must prove any denied claims.