Ziekteverzuim

Sickness absence refers to the situation in which an employee is unable to work due to illness or health complaints. The law governs the handling of such cases through, among other things, the Gatekeeper Improvement Act and the employer’s obligation to continue wage payments for a maximum of two years.

This is relevant because the employer is required to continue paying wages and to cooperate in the employee’s reintegration, while the employee is required to cooperate in recovery and the performance of suitable work. Insufficient efforts may result in sanctions, such as discontinuation of wage payments.

In practice, employers implement sickness absence policies, engage an occupational physician and maintain a file to comply with their reintegration obligations.