No job usually means no income, but a bizarre case in Germany is sparking outrage. In North Rhine-Westphalia, a female teacher has been on sick leave since 2009, citing mental health reasons, and has not worked a single day. Yet, over 16 years, she has continued receiving her full salary—an astonishing total of €1 million (RM4.9 million).
According to The Telegraph, the state government requested that she undergo a medical examination to verify her health status, but she refused and instead filed a lawsuit. The court recently dismissed her appeal, ruling that if she wishes to remain on medical leave, she must submit to a health check. On top of that, she has been ordered to pay €2,500 (RM12,200) in legal costs.
During her 16-year absence, it is estimated she received around €1 million in taxpayer-funded wages. German law prevents schools from hiring a permanent replacement during her sick leave, meaning her workload had to be covered by other teachers. The head of the teachers’ union slammed her behavior as “an insult to my colleagues,” adding: “In my entire career, I’ve never seen anything like this—it’s outrageous.”
