Have you ever actually met a European? Most people I know have at least one savings account. Also (at least in Sweden) sickpay is usually paid for by your workplace for the first two weeks, where you typically need a doctors note after one week. If you’re sick for longer than two weeks you have to contact one of our social services (Försäkringskassan), with a new doctors note, they will make an evolution if you’re sick enough to not be able to work. If they think you’re not able to work they will pay you based on what your salary was.
Of course you can abuse this system, but if you are sick often enough your workplace will probably demand a doctors note from day one. It’s not a perfect system, but I prefer knowing that the bills will be paid, even I get sick for a long period of time.
Have you ever actually met a European? Most people I know have at least one savings account. Also (at least in Sweden) sickpay is usually paid for by your workplace for the first two weeks, where you typically need a doctors note after one week. If you’re sick for longer than two weeks you have to contact one of our social services (Försäkringskassan), with a new doctors note, they will make an evolution if you’re sick enough to not be able to work. If they think you’re not able to work they will pay you based on what your salary was.
Of course you can abuse this system, but if you are sick often enough your workplace will probably demand a doctors note from day one. It’s not a perfect system, but I prefer knowing that the bills will be paid, even I get sick for a long period of time.