Absenteeism guidance

Capability, the occupational health service of attention & action

You are sick so what should you do next? First and foremost, it's important that you report your sickness to your employer. In the case of short-term absenteeism, such as a flu, you often return to work after a few days. When absenteeism lasts longer, the absenteeism process begins, and we as the occupational health service, spring into action.

Discover how

A sick report, what does the law say?

We are happy to explain how the legislation works, what we do as an occupational health service, and what responsibilities lie with you and your employer. The goal is to accelerate your recovery and ensure the absenteeism process runs smoothly.

In the Netherlands, a law has been enacted called The Eligibility for Permanent Incapacity Benefit (Restrictions) Act which is aimed at reducing long-term absenteeism. The core principle is that both the employer and the employee commit to getting the absent employee back to work as quickly as possible. The employer is always supported in this process by a certified occupational health service and/or occupational physician.

See our approach

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The occupational health service

Our absenteeism managers work together with the occupational physicians towards a quick, responsible, and sustainable return to work, addressing underlying issues. During the absenteeism process, we follow the guidelines and obligations set out by The Eligibility for Permanent Incapacity Benefit (Restrictions) Act. These steps are designed to ensure you return to work as soon as possible and in a responsible manner.

Your employer

During the absenteeism process, your employer has several obligations. While this may sound serious, it is designed to promote your recovery. For example, your employer must offer modified work, if possible, when you cannot fully return to your previous duties. Regular contact with you and documenting the process are also important parts of the process.

You as employee

A quick, responsible, and sustainable recovery is desired – for both you and your employer. This also requires effort on your part to cooperate where possible. For example, actively working on your recovery, maintaining contact with your employer, and accepting offered suitable work. You will have regular conversations with the occupational health service to discuss progress and the appropriate next steps.

Stay connected

Being unable to work for an extended period is certainly frustrating, both for you and your employer. Our advice: try to stay connected with your employer and actively participate in the absenteeism and reintegration process. Be reachable, maintain good communication, and try to focus on what you can do.

The longer you stay at home, the higher the threshold becomes to return to work. Sometimes, an occupational physician or work expert might suggest that you can take on alternative tasks. For example, if you’re a teacher and can’t manage to be in the classroom for two full days, perhaps you could still grade assignments. In this way, you actively contribute to a successful reintegration and help your employer and colleagues manage the workload.