Sick leave

Are you sick, do you need to recover after an accident, or do you have burnout? If you cannot work because of this, you still get all or part of your pay in most cases. A company doctor can support you during your sick leave. Together with your employer, you make a plan for you to return to work.

Sick leave and working in the Netherlands 

In the Netherlands, you must tell your employer as soon as possible if you are sick. You then take sick leave. We also call this sickness absence from work. If you work through an agency, you must also report sick to the agency. If you are sick for a short time, your employer does not need to do anything. If you are sick for more than one week, your employer will contact the company doctor. You do not need to tell your employer what illness you have. You must say when you think you can return to work. If you become sick again within 4 weeks, this counts as the same sickness period.

What does a company doctor do? 

The company doctor supports you while you are on sick leave. The company doctor also helps you think about what can be done to help you return to work (reintegrate after sick leave). The company doctor works for your boss as well as for you. You all work together to create a plan to help you return to work. This is called your action plan. 

Wages while you are on long-term sick leave 

In the first year of sick leave, you receive at least 70% of your wages, and you might receive more. In some cases, you do not get any wages for the first day of sick leave. This is called a waiting day. In the second year of sick leave, you still receive at least 70% of your last wages. If this means you do not have enough money, you can claim an allowance from UWV. While you are on sick leave, your employer continues to pay some or all of your wages for up to two years. If you are still sick when that period ends, you might be able to get a disability benefit.  

Types of contracts and illness 

If you have a permanent or temporary contract, you normally still receive at least some of your wages  and you create a plan with your employer. If your contract ends while you are on sick leave, you will receive sickness benefit from UWV. Temporary agency workers and on-call workers can also claim benefit. Self-employed people can take out their own insurance. 

Help with reintegrating after sick leave 

If you have been sick for a long time, sometimes you can return to work if you work fewer hours or do different work. In that case, you can claim WIA benefit from UWV and possibly have your contract adjusted. If you receive a benefit, UWV or your municipality will help you find work. UWV also offers help in the form of employment experts and work advisors, and through reintegration companies.  

You can learn more about reintegrating after sick leave here. 

Additional support 

If you are sick or have a disability, you can request aids and assistance such as a modified chair, a career coach or transport. If you do not agree with your company doctor, you can ask another company doctor for a second opinion. If you and your employer do not agree on your reintegration after sick leave, you can ask UWV for an expert opinion. If you still cannot agree, you can take the matter to court.