I don't even get the "paid sick days" thing. In Germany you have a minimum of 20 days off by law, most of the time it is > 30 though. If you are sick you are sick, you go to a doctor who will give a paper that states how long you won't be able to work, you will get paid for that period. If you are sick for more than 6 weeks the insurance covers it and your employer doesn't have to pay anything while you get I think around 80% of your regular salary.