The OECD He placed Germany in front of a mirror: that of the country developed where less hours work a year. Behind the figures (just 1,331 hours per year) There was a culture broth marked by economic deterioration and a nation that moves between two poles: lengthening the days or valuing life more outside of work. And in between, scandals that have reinforced the perception that labor laxity is unsustainable.
The case of a low teacher since 2009 has lit the debate.
An unusual case. In Wesel, North-Westphalia Rhine Since 2009sixteen years without reincorporating his post, but fully charging his salary, which over 16 years added around one million euros (between 5,000 and 6,000 euros per month). During all that time he presented monthly medical certificates, although he was never required an official recognition to accredit his status.
The anomaly came to light when, after years of bureaucratic inertia, a new official detected irregularity In 2024 and ordered the medical review. When he was finally asked to undergo a medical examination, the teacher responded demanding her employer, claiming violation of rights, as she had done before in front of an attempt to transfer in 2017, but this time she lost the litigation. The Ministry of Education of Renania del Norte-Westfalia has described The issue of “serious failure within the Bezirksregierung of Düsseldorf” and has promised a “concessions” review of all internal procedures.
Implications The teacher’s official granted her Extraordinary protectionincluding the right to leave indefinite with full salary, provided that it was properly accredited. However, local reports suggest that during their prolonged absence he reached Found a company Medical and exercising as a naturopath, activities that, if confirmed, would violate the obligations of prior notification and prohibition of parallel works during a decline. Not just that. He came to participate in entrepreneurship competitions, getting to obtain A 5,000 euros award for a cream of your invention.
According to the labor lawyer Ralf DelgmannNot only infringed the regulations that require prior authorization for any secondary work, but would have done it while perceiving a medical leave, which feeds the suspicion that he was never really incapacitated. This could cost his pension, salary and even the condition of official. Even so, jurists warn That retrospectively demonstrating the absence of disease is practically impossible, so the recovery of wages already perceived is unlikely.
A symptom of a major problem. The scandal, airy by the German presshas raised a debate about the rigidity and at the same time the vulnerability of the official statute. While private employees go on to collect reduced benefits After six weeks, officials keep the salary even for years, provided there is effective control.
The case demonstrates how a Supervision vacuum prolonged allowed an anomaly to be consolidated for almost two decades. Although the Ministry insists that it is not a systemic problem, but about punctual negligence, public opinion perceive that confidence in the public function is committed by episodes of abuse like this.
A long process. The media in Germany tell that the newly opened disciplinary procedure can Extend three or four yearstime during which both the actions of the teacher and the omissions of her administrative superiors will be investigated.
Beyond its individual outcome, the case has become a symbol of control deficiencies in German administration, evidencing how a single poorly managed file can erode the credibility of an entire system. Plus: Beyond the judicial outcome, what remains in evidence is the urgency of rethink a casualty model That, in his eagerness to shield officials, he opens the door to abuses that end up being paid by society as a whole.
Image | Pxhere
In Xataka | The myth says that Germans work more than the Spaniards. The data tell a different thing
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings