German Teacher on 16-Year Sick Leave Sues Employer Over Medical Examination

A teacher in Germany has been on sick leave for 16 years since 2009, receiving full salary, and has now sued her employer after being asked to undergo a medical examination to confirm her condition. The unnamed teacher from North Germany, classified as a public servant, continued to collect her salary while on sick leave, which amounts to a total of around €1 million over the 16-year period.

The teacher's case came to light when the school's leadership changed, and an internal audit revealed the unusual long absence without proper medical examination reports being submitted monthly. The teacher refused to comply with the medical examination request and decided to sue her employer instead.