Short Answer

You are entitled to paid time off to care for a sick child provided you obtain a specific "Kinderkrankenschein" from a pediatrician.

This document allows your health insurance company to pay approximately 90% of your net salary for the days you miss work.

What Most Expats Don't Realize

You stayed home to care for your feverish toddler and simply told your boss you would be back in two days. You didn't know that without the "Kinderkrankengeld" paperwork, your company was legally required to deduct those days from your limited annual vacation balance. You lost two days of your summer holiday because you treated a child's illness as a personal favor from your boss rather than a statutory insurance claim.

What To Do

  • Call your pediatrician's office immediately to request an appointment for a "Kinderkrankengeld-Bescheinigung."
  • Bring your child to the clinic to receive the blue-and-white form specifically meant for the parent's employer.
  • "Ich brauche einen Kinderkrankenschein für meinen Arbeitgeber." (I need a child sick note for my employer.) — Ask the pediatrician for this document during the visit.

The Truth

The system separates parental illness from child care. Without the correct certificate from the pediatrician, the time you spend at your child's bedside is classified as a private holiday at your own expense.