Care leave

In the Netherlands, you can go on care leave if you need to care for a sick child, partner or family member.  

What is care leave? 

If someone you are close to, such as your partner, mother or father, is sick, you can go on short-term care leave. In total, you can take two weeks of this leave every year. You receive 70% of your wages, and at least the minimum wage, while you are on leave. 

The person who is sick must be in need of care and you must be the best person who can give this care. If the person who is sick is in hospital, you cannot usually go on care leave because care is already being provided. However, you can go on care leave if a family member needs to go to hospital or see a doctor and you need to go with them. 

If your child is sick 

If your child suddenly becomes sick at school, for example, and you need to collect your child, you can take emergency leave or short-term leave. This leave is for emergencies that you need to deal with immediately. 

Going on long-term care leave 

Long-term care leave is leave you can take to care for someone who is seriously ill. This could be a family member or someone else you are close to. If the person has a life-threatening illness, it is not necessary that you are the only one who can help. If the person has a different condition or other care needs, your help must be really necessary. Long-term leave is unpaid. However, your CAO might say that your employer will pay at least part of your wages while you are on this leave. 

Caring for a family member outside the Netherlands 

You can go on care leave to care for a family member who is not in the Netherlands if you can prove it is essential that you provide this care yourself. This rule does not apply if the family member has a life-threatening illness. 

Requesting leave from your employer 

Request long-term care leave from your employer at least two weeks before you want your leave to start. You do not need to request short-term leave so far in advance. In that case, you must let your employer as soon as possible and before the leave starts. Your employer may ask you for information, for example a letter from a doctor such as a GP or a hospital doctor. 

Your employer can only say no if going on leave would cause major problems for the company. This applies to both short-term and long-term care leave. 

Your employer may refuse a request for long-term leave as long as it does so no later than one week before the leave is due to start. If your employer does not say no on time it cannot stop you from going on leave. Your employer is also not allowed to end your long-term care leave once it has started.