Sick pay (Entgeltfortzahlung) secures an employee's full remuneration for up to 6 weeks during illness-related incapacity for work (§ 3 EntgFG). It requires an illness that is not self-inflicted and a 4-week waiting period since the start of employment. After that, the health insurance fund pays Krankengeld. The Entgeltausfallprinzip applies: the employee receives what they would have earned without the illness.
At a glance
- Entitlement to up to 6 weeks of full pay per illness (§ 3 EntgFG), provided the illness is not self-inflicted and is the sole cause of the incapacity
- The entitlement only arises after a 4-week waiting period from the start of employment
- 100 % of regular remuneration is paid, under the Entgeltausfallprinzip (loss-of-earnings principle)
- After the 6 weeks, the statutory health insurance fund pays Krankengeld (roughly 70 % of gross, capped at 90 % of net, for up to 78 weeks per illness)
- If a statutory public holiday falls within the illness, pay is preserved
- Small employers are partly reimbursed for the cost through the U1-Umlage levy (the AAG equalisation scheme)
Recurring illness (Fortsetzungserkrankung) and renewed entitlement
- For the same illness, a fresh 6-week entitlement arises only if the employee was not incapacitated by that illness for at least 6 months beforehand, or 12 months have passed since the first incapacity began (§ 3 EntgFG)
- A new, different illness generally triggers its own 6-week entitlement, even if it directly follows an earlier illness
FAQ
When does the entitlement to Entgeltfortzahlung start?
Only after an uninterrupted 4-week waiting period from the start of employment. If someone falls ill before that, the health insurance fund pays Krankengeld for that period; afterwards, sick pay applies.
How much is Entgeltfortzahlung?
100 % of regular remuneration. Under the Entgeltausfallprinzip, the employee receives what they would have earned without the incapacity, including fixed allowances but excluding expense reimbursements such as travel costs.
What happens after the 6 weeks?
Employer payments end and the statutory health insurance fund pays Krankengeld, usually around 70 % of gross remuneration (up to a maximum of 90 % of net) for up to 78 weeks for the same illness within 3 years.
Is the employer reimbursed?
Small employers (generally up to 30 employees) take part in the U1-Umlage scheme and are reimbursed part of the wages they continue to pay. The reimbursement rate depends on the tariff chosen with the health insurance fund.
Last updated: August 2026
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for legal advice in individual cases.
