German teacher ill for 17 years fights in court for full salary
A German teacher who has been on paid sick leave since 2009 is fighting in court to keep receiving her full salary after authorities ordered her retirement, a case that has sparked nationwide debate.
The 62-year-old teacher from North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen) has not taught in a classroom for nearly 17 years but continued to receive her full salary because she is employed as a German civil servant. Under Germany's civil service rules, teachers can remain on full pay during long-term illness, unlike most private-sector employees.
The legal dispute began after authorities decided to retire her on medical grounds. The teacher is challenging that decision because retirement would replace her full salary with a pension, reducing her income. Her case is now before the Düsseldorf Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgericht Düsseldorf), where judges will determine whether the forced retirement is lawful.
At the same time, the case has attracted the attention of prosecutors, who are investigating possible fraud linked to her prolonged absence from work. Authorities are examining whether there is any evidence that the benefits she received over the years were obtained improperly, although no final conclusions have been reached.
The unusual case has reignited public debate in Germany over the country's civil service system. Critics argue that existing rules provide generous protections but may lack sufficient oversight in exceptional cases involving extremely long periods of sick leave. Supporters, however, warn that long-term illnesses can be genuine and that civil servants are entitled to legal protections until the courts decide otherwise.