Short Answer
The digital sick note (eAU) handles the communication between your doctor and your insurer, but it does not replace your duty to notify your employer.
You are still personally responsible for informing your boss that you are sick, as they will not receive an automatic alert from the system.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You assumed that because the system is "digital," your boss would see your status on their screen automatically. You didn't know that the employer has to manually request the data from the health insurance company, so your manager had no idea why you were missing. You lost a day of wages and received a stern reprimand because you didn't realize the eAU is a "pull" system, not a "push" system.
What To Do
- Ask the doctor's receptionist to confirm that the "eAU" has been successfully uploaded to your Krankenkasse.
- Email your employer the moment you leave the clinic to tell them your sick note is ready for them to retrieve.
- "Die elektronische Krankschreibung liegt meiner Krankenkasse vor." (The electronic sick note is available at my health insurance.) — include this sentence in your notification to your boss.
The Truth
The system is designed for administrative efficiency between insurers and companies, not for interpersonal communication. Germany still requires the employee to initiate the notification chain manually.