In case of sudden illness / urgent need for care (short-term care leave – up to 10 days)
Every employee in Germany has the right to take short-term emergency leave (up to 10 days) to care for a close relative (e.g. father, mother, spouse, son, daughter …) if that person becomes acutely ill or suddenly requires urgent care.
Legal basis: § 2 Pflegezeitgesetz (PflegeZG – Care Leave Act)
This leave is usually unpaid, but you can apply for a benefit from the long-term care insurance called Pflegeunterstützungsgeld (care support allowance).
Procedure:
Inform your employer immediately that you need to stay at home to care for your parent due to an emergency situation.
Obtain a medical certificate (ärztliches Attest) from your parent’s doctor confirming the urgent need for your personal care and support.
Send this certificate to your employer and state the start date and the expected duration of your absence (up to a maximum of 10 days).
Submit an application for Pflegeunterstützungsgeld to your parent’s long-term care insurance fund (Pflegekasse); your GP’s practice or the health insurance (Krankenkasse/Pflegekasse) can usually help you with the process.
In case of long-term care needs (Pflegezeit / Familienpflegezeit)
If your father or mother becomes permanently dependent on care (with a recognised Pflegegrad – level of care), you have the following options:
Pflegezeit (care leave):
Full or almost full leave from work for up to 6 months (usually unpaid).
Familienpflegezeit (family care leave):
Partial leave with reduced working hours,
up to 24 months, with a minimum of 15 working hours per week, for long-term home care.
Procedure:
Submit a written request to your employer, explaining the duration and structure of the planned care (for example, reduced hours, schedule).
Attach a medical certificate or official proof of the Pflegegrad (issued by the doctor/health or care insurance).
Observe the legal deadlines:
For Pflegezeit: apply at least 10 days before the planned start.
For Familienpflegezeit: apply at least 8 weeks before the planned start.
Other options
If your parent’s situation is not an acute emergency under § 2 PflegeZG and no long-term care arrangement is planned, you can also discuss with your employer:
Taking regular annual leave (Urlaub), or
Agreeing on unpaid leave (unbezahlter Urlaub).
In these cases, approval is largely at the discretion of the employer.
Quick summary:
For urgent care needs of your father or mother:
You have a legal right to up to 10 days of short-term leave,
and you can claim Pflegeunterstützungsgeld from the care insurance fund.
For long-term care needs:
You may take Pflegezeit (care leave) for up to 6 months, or
Familienpflegezeit with reduced working hours for up to 24 months.
The key steps are always:
Obtain a medical certificate,
Inform your employer in time,
File a formal request.
The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or some details may be incomplete or not fully verified. Please treat this article as an initial reference and always contact the relevant authorities or professionals for definitive, up-to-date advice.
