What is the electronic certificate of incapacity for work (eAU)?
The electronic certificate of incapacity for work (eAU) is a digital procedure for the transmission of sick notes between doctors’ practices, health insurance companies and employers. Since January 1, 2023, employers have been obliged to retrieve the eAU data from the health insurance companies, replacing the previous paper-based certificate of incapacity for work.
Procedure of the eAU
- Determination of incapacity for work: The attending physician diagnoses the incapacity for work and prepares the eAU.
- Transmission to the health insurance fund: The eAU is sent electronically to the relevant health insurance fund.
- Informing the employer: The employee informs the employer of the incapacity for work.
- Retrieval by the employer: The employer retrieves the eAU data from the health insurance fund.
Integration in ZMI
ZMI offer you seamless integration of the eAU into the digital time tracking system ZMI – Time (from version 6.5). Sickness notifications can be automatically recorded and processed via corresponding interfaces, which reduces administrative effort and increases data quality.
Advantages of the eAU
- Reduction in paperwork: Digitization eliminates millions of paper forms every year.
- Faster information flows: Electronic transmission speeds up the exchange of information between doctors, health insurers and employers.
- Increased data security: The use of secure transmission channels ensures the secure transmission of sensitive health data.
- Increased efficiency: Automated processes in HR and time management systems reduce administrative effort and minimize sources of error.
Innovations from 2025
From January 1, 2025, the eAU procedure will be expanded. In future, periods of hospitalization, preventive care and rehabilitation measures will also be transmitted electronically, even if there is no incapacity to work. This will enable more comprehensive documentation of absences and improve personnel planning.
Conclusion
The electronic certificate of incapacity for work (eAU) modernizes the sickness notification procedure in Germany. By integrating it into the time recording system, companies benefit from more efficient processes, increased data security and improved personnel planning.