A teacher who was on sick leave for more than 16 years refused a request from her employer to undergo a medical exam.
The anonymous German teacher first took leave in 2009 due to medical issues.
She has since continued to draw a full salary from the education authority of the west German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Under Germany’s basic law, teachers are classed as ‘beamte’ – or public servants – and enjoy several benefits over other state sector workers including a special health plan, a higher pension and better job security.
Beamte are also allowed to take a full salary while on sick leave indefinitely.
However, the unidentified teacher has sued the authority after it began to challenge her extended absence and requested she take a medical test.
Her case was rejected by a court, which branded her situation ‘truly incomprehensible’ and ruled that employers can belatedly ask for proof of illness.
German newspaper Die Welt reports that teachers in North Rhine-Westphalia can earn up to €6,174 (£5,300) each month.
Applying that figure to this teacher’s case, it would suggest she has earned roughly €72,000 per year while on sick leave.
Over the entire 16-year period of her absence, she is estimated to have been paid a total of €1million (£900,000) in wages.
Under the ruling, she must undergo the exam if she wishes to continue taking a salary.
The teacher must also foot a €2,500 bill in court fees, the Telegraph reported.
Andreas Bartsch, the president of the state’s teacher’s union, said the teacher’s conduct was a ‘slap in the face’ of members.
‘I’ve never experienced anything like this in my entire professional career. It is completely abysmal behaviour’, he commented.
Because teachers on sick leave cannot be replaced under German law, meaning that her colleagues would have to have taken on her workload, he added.
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