Sick leave in the Netherlands
Mandatory guidance by an occupational health and safety service (Arbodienst)
As an employer in the Netherlands, you are responsible for continued payment of wages for two years if an employee is ill. You are also required to have a contract with a certified occupational health service (arbodienst).
Sick employees in the Netherlands?
No doctor’s note, but you do have obligations
Do you know how to proceed, when your Dutch employees call in sick? Download this factsheet and find out how it works!
Employing staff in the Netherlands
Are you considering employing permanent or temporary staff in the Netherlands? Than make sure you are well informed on the obligations you should fulfil.
We have listed the most important topics, click to read more on:
Employing staff in the Netherlands >>In many countries, employees submit a medical certificate in the event of illness. In the Netherlands, no general practitioner issues such a certificate. Employees simply report sick to their employer themselves. The employer must monitor the course of the illness in consultation with the company doctor or the occupational health and safety service (arbodienst), such as Interfisc.
In the event of illness of one of your employees, the guidelines in the Netherlands differ enormously from those in surrounding countries. As an employer in the Netherlands, you are obliged to play an active role in accompanying the sick employee.
This role for the employer will also become increasingly important in the Netherlands in the coming years. Preventing sickness-related absences and reducing employee absences is partly the responsibility of the employer. In addition, the law (Eligibility for Permanent Incapacity Benefit Restrictions Act or the Wet Verbetering Poortwachter) imposes a number of administrative obligations that you as the employer must fulfil for a period of at least 104 weeks in case of incapacity for work. Examples include regularly updating an action plan and reporting incapacity for work to the Dutch authorities on time.
DON'T FORGET ANYTHING WITH OUR SUPPORT IN THE EVENT OF ILLNESS, ESPECIALLY FOR FOREIGN EMPLOYERS
Our sick leave guidance subscription has been set up specifically for employers who do not have their own ‘sickness absence expert’. Thanks to the services of Interfisc, you can rest assured that everything will be taken care of. We help many foreign employers with staff in the Netherlands to fulfil their obligations. We take into account the differences between what you are used to in your own country and what is expected of you in the Netherlands.
A few examples of the services included in our sick leave guidance subscription:
- Processing sick leave and health notifications.
- Our ‘sickness absence counsellors’ monitor the situation when an employee reports sick. If necessary, they will schedule appointments for you and your staff with our network of company doctors and other specialists in accordance with the applicable regulations.
- In the event of incapacity for work, we proactively inform you and your employee of every step you need to take in accordance with Dutch legislation so that you don’t forget anything.
- We offer proactive advice regarding absence from work, advice to prevent illness and absence, clear communication between our specialists and your company, personal contact.
- To inform your employees about their and your obligations regarding sick leave and to make clear arrangements, you can use our sample sick leave protocol, available in Dutch, French, English and German.
- You will receive an up-to-date absenteeism overview whenever you need it.
- We report frequent absences due to illness if this is the case.
- Use of our online app, where you can view your file at any time.
- Administrative support with the Dutch authorities (UWV) and sick pay insurance.
- If you wish, you can instruct our case manager to keep a close eye on your obligations as an employer in the event of long-term absence. For example, drawing up and evaluating the action plan and preparing the re-integration into the workplace report and other documents. We will ask you as an employer to draw these up together with your sick employee if and when needed.
how can we help?
At Interfisc, we make sure that you know what to do if your Dutch employee is reporting sick.
Feel free to read our information so you are well aware of your obligations:
Our advice? Don’t wait until it’s too late but make your arrangements right from the start. Contact us!
Employing staff in the Netherlands
Are you considering employing permanent or temporary staff in the Netherlands? Than make sure you are well informed on the obligations you should fulfil.
We have listed the most important topics, click to read more on:
Employing staff in the Netherlands >>Keep up to date on the latest news!
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Since 1972, Interfisc has offered international HR & Payroll solutions in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. We do this from our offices in the Netherlands and Belgium, and with an international team of around 45 committed and caring employees.
- Thorough knowledge of local rules on employment law, social security, taxes, employee benefits and health & safety
- We keep you informed of changes in local legislation, supplemented with practical solutions
- One point of contact for all your questions
- Expert in cross border payroll solutions since 1972
- We speak your language!
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