Sick leave as a form of strike – clever method or abuse of law?

Sick leave as a form of strike is a topic that stirs emotions as much as the legality of road blockades or the occupation of public buildings. When nurses go on mass sick leave and police officers suddenly all “fall ill” at the same time, public opinion splits into two camps. Some see it as a clever and the only effective method of putting pressure on the authorities, since the right to strike in many public professions is limited. Others cry abuse and fraud against the state and citizens who pay taxes, only to be left without care or protection. Adding to the controversy is the fact that the Social Insurance Institution (the equivalent of Social Security) often turns a blind eye to such situations, fueling suspicions of silent approval. Is sick leave then a clever bypass of the system, or an open violation of the law?