Abstract
This article critically assesses how rigid legal frameworks for sickness absence, such as those in Spain and Italy, limit the sustainable reintegration of workers with chronic illnesses. These systems are grounded in a binary understanding of work capacity that generally prevents any form of work during medical leave and assumes a full recovery upon return. Drawing on a comparative analysis of the more flexible sickness absence models implemented in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Sweden, the article identifies shared features that enable the combination of reduced work capacity with partial reintegration under adapted conditions. The article concludes by analyzing the Spanish Government’s attempt to modernize the system with a recent proposal to introduce part-time sickness absence, followed by a critical analysis of the main objections it has raised in the public debate.