Questions on sick leave

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Sick leave

Why do I need to see the company doctor?

The Gatekeeper Improvement Act (Wet Verbetering Poortwachter) states that in case of sickness absence, the employer is obliged to actively work on recovery and reintegration together with the employee, under the guidance of a company doctor.

According to the Act, in case of sickness absence, the employer is obliged to work together with the employee on recovery and reintegration, under the guidance of a company doctor.

How can I report sick?

You can report sick through your (former) employer. Check with your (former) employer how to report sick.

Where can I report myself recovered?

You can always report recovered to your (former) employer. Ask your (ex-)employer how you can report recovered. It is also possible that a company doctor declares you recovered, in which case you still have to report to your (former) employer.

Hoe kan ik een afspraak maken bij de bedrijfsarts, zonder dat ik ziek ben?

As an employee, you have the right to see an occupational doctor even if you are not sick. We call this a working conditions consultation and these are anonymous. You can email planning@vitaalarbo.nl, call our general number 0573 - 215 051 to schedule an appointment.

Can I switch company doctors?

Within Vitaal! every (former) employer has a regular company doctor; we do this so that a company doctor knows the company and its functions. He or she can therefore give better advice on the possibilities in (adapted) work. Switching does not benefit the reintegration process.

If you want to change company doctor for important reasons, we will discuss this with you first. If it turns out that the cooperation with the company doctor does not benefit the reintegration process, we will comply with this request in exceptional cases.

What can I do if I disagree with the company doctor's advice?

If you disagree with the company doctor's advice, the first step is always to discuss it with the company doctor himself. The company doctor can give you an additional explanation. Do you then still disagree? Then you can always request an expert opinion from the UWV. You can also request a second-opinion, discuss this with your own company doctor.

How often do I see to see the company doctor?

This varies per situation. Your company doctor will agree a follow-up appointment with you.

How long does it take before I can make an appointment with the company doctor?

We aim to schedule an appointment with a company doctor within 48 hours, but you will have an appointment with a company doctor within 2 weeks at the latest.

Will the cost of my appointment with the company doctor be covered by the (former) employer or my insurance?

The cost of an appointment with the company doctor is paid by your (former) employer.

How does the health and safety service (arbodienst) work with my doctor or specialist?

The company doctor may need more medical information to give proper advice. He or she may obtain this information from, for example, your doctor or other treating physician. For this we do need your permission by means of an authorisation form.

What are my obligations in following company doctor's advice?

As an employee, you are obliged to cooperate in your reintegration. You may not do anything that will hinder or delay your recovery.

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Am I obliged to accept work adjustments because of my illness?

If these adjustments are in line with the company doctor's advice, you are obliged to cooperate. If you do not agree, you can always request an expert opinion from the UWV, which does incur costs.

What should I do if my situation gets worse?

If your (medical) situation worsens and this affects your reintegration or work, notify the Arbodienst. You will then be summoned to the company doctor's surgery as soon as possible so that your situation can be reassessed.

Is the company doctor independent?

An occupational physician is always independent. He or she assesses and advises on the basis of legislation and professional guidelines. The advice given is for application for both employer and employee.

Appointment / Consultation

Can I reschedule my appointment?

You can reschedule an appointment with the company doctor, 48 hours in advance, in agreement with your (former) employer and with good reason.

How do I know where and with whom my appointment is?

You will receive a call-up letter via email with the date, time, address and company doctor and/or POB in it.

How do I prepare for my appointment?

Think in advance about questions you want to ask. You can also think in advance about what activities you can and cannot do. Bring relevant information to the consultation, such as medication and a practitioner's appointment schedule.

How long does a standard consultation at the company doctor's take?

An first appointment with the company doctor always lasts a maximum of one hour. Follow-up consultations generally last a maximum of 30 minutes (there are always exceptions).

What happens after my appointment with the company doctor?

After your appointment with the company doctor, the company doctor draws up a work resumption recommendation. This is provided to you and your (former) employer.

Is an translator present during the consultation?

If necessary, we will arrange for an translator through the translator phone.

Can I bring my own translator?

No, an translator should always be independent.

Can I bring someone with me to my appointment with the company doctor?

You may be accompanied to an appointment with the company doctor.

Can I reschedule my appointment to online as well?

This is always in agreement with your (former) employer and is done on rare occasions.

What happens if I miss an appointment with the company doctor?

Make sure you arrive on time. If you show up late, or not at all, at the company doctor's surgery, and you do not have a good reason, we consider this a no-show which may affect the payment of your salary or sickness benefit.

Safety and privacy

Is my conversation with the company doctor confidential?

Yes, a company doctor is never allowed to share your medical information with your (former) employer. A company doctor may, however, pass on the expected duration of absenteeism, the degree of incapacity, what work you are capable of and whether any adjustments, work facilities or additional interventions need to be arranged.

Is my conversation with the case manager confidential?

A casemanager may only discuss with the employer information that is necessary for the reintegration process and business operations. This means that the case manager is limited in what he or she may share about the employee's specific health situation in order to ensure privacy.

How does Vitaal! store my data?

Vitaal! stores your data in a secure absence system, which requires users to log in with a two-step verification. There are official retention periods for keeping your (personal) data. Please refer to our privacy policy on our website.

Will my (former) employer see my details?

Your (ex-)employer can only see your data for which he or she is authorised. Thus, your (ex-)employer, but also the casemanager, cannot see your medical data; these are only accessible to the company doctor, the practice assistant and the medical secretariat. A feedback of the consultation with the company doctor is shared with the employer and employee. No medical information is shared in this.

Holiday / Vacation

As a sick employee, do I accrue vacation days?

Yes, as long as you are entitled to wages, you build up vacation days. This also applies if you are partially ill. Accrual stops after 104 weeks of illness, when your employer's obligation to continue paying wages ends.

Your holiday accrual is based on the normal number of hours you would work if you were not sick.

Will my holidays as a sick employee be deducted from my balance?

Yes, if you go on holiday as a sick employee, you simply take holidays. If you normally work 40 hours a week and during your illness you work 20 hours a week, you will still take 40 hours of holiday if you take a week off. This applies even if you cannot work at all; you take the number of hours you would normally work.

Do my holidays expire even if I am sick?

Yes, even if you are ill, holidays expire. Statutory holidays expire on 1 July of the year following the year in which they were accrued. For example, holidays accrued in 2018 must be taken before 1 July 2019 or they will expire. This also applies if you were unable to take your holidays due to, for example, hospitalisation or serious illness.

What pay should I get during my holidays if I am sick?

If you have taken holidays, they will be paid out based on 100% of your last-earned salary. Even if you are paid less during your illness.

As a sick employee, do I have to request holiday?

Yes, you must request holiday from your employer in the usual way, even if you are totally unfit for work. Your employer can ask the company doctor for advice on the possible negative impact of the holiday on your recovery.

I want to go on holiday while sick, should my employer allow this?

Does your employer have doubts about whether the holiday is hindering your reintegration? Then he can ask the company doctor for advice. Based on this advice, it will be decided whether you can go on holiday.

Rights and obligations

Am I obliged to come to the consultation?

As an employee, you have a number of obligations under the Gatekeeper Improvement Act (Wet Verbetering Poortwachter). One of these obligations is to be available for a consultation hour with the company doctor. You cannot stay away from this without an urgent reason. Cancelling or rescheduling a consultation hour must always be discussed with your employer. Repeated non-attendance of an employee at the company doctor's consultation hours can lead to sanctions.

What information am I required to share with the occupational health and safety service during my illness?

All the information that is relevant to aid your recovery and reintegration.

Am I obliged to answer the casemanager's questions?

An employee is not obliged to answer questions from a case manager. However, the employee is obliged to cooperate in the reintegration according to the Gatekeeper Improvement Act. This means providing relevant information needed for reintegration. In general, the case manager may only ask questions necessary for reintegration. Our case managers work under delegation from the company doctor. They may, on the instructions of and under strict supervision by the company doctor, request limited medical information. for example, to ask whether a practitioner has already been visited.

Can I make a complaint?

If you’re not satisfied with the services provided by Vitaal!, you can file a complaint.

Our complaints procedure can be found here.

What are my rights regarding maternity leave and childbirth leave?

When you are pregnant, you are entitled to at least 16 weeks' maternity leave. Your leave starts between 6 and 4 weeks before your due date, after which you are entitled to 10 to 12 weeks of maternity leave. If you go on maternity leave 6 weeks before your due date, you are still entitled to 10 weeks of maternity leave after you give birth. If you go on maternity leave 4 weeks before your due date, you are still entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave after you give birth. Even if your baby is born later than your due date. If you are pregnant with a multiple birth, you are entitled to at least 20 weeks' maternity leave. Your maternity leave starts between 10 and 8 weeks before your due date. Are you sick due to pregnancy before your maternity leave starts? Then your maternity leave automatically starts 6 weeks (or 10 weeks in the case of a multiple birth) before your due date.

2nd track reintegration (2e spoor begeleiding)

What does a 2nd track reintegration consultant do?

A reintegration consultant supervises employees who have been ill for a long time and for whom it is not yet clear whether they can return to their own job or another job with their own employer or where this is not the case. Together with the employee, the advisor examines the possibilities for other suitable work with another employer (the so-called 2nd track). The advisor supports both the employee and the employer in the reintegration process by giving advice, offering coaching and helping with job applications. The advisor helps ensure that the process complies with the legal obligations of the Gatekeeper Improvement Act (Wet Verbetering Poortwachter).

What is a 2nd 'spoor traject'

Within a 2nd track programme, we examine which job(s) fit(s) the employee's capacity. This involves using various questionnaires (TMA). These job(s) are tested against the reality and the capacity of the employee. In addition, we investigate which companies fit this profile and approach them. Together with the consultant, the employee will, if necessary, put the job application activities in order (e.g. letter, CV, social media, networking, STARR-based interview). The above so that the employee can compete with those of others in the job market. The adviser's network will be merged with that of the employee and these will be expanded where necessary. Both the employee and the consultant will approach the labour market in a proactive manner.

Reintegration

Should I cooperate in a reintegration process?

A track 2 reintegration programme follows the legislation from the Wet Verbetering Poortwachter. The UWV states that an adequate reintegration track 2 programme must be followed. This means that various components must return and that it is not without obligation for the employee.

Do I have to accept if my (former) employer offers me other work during my reintegration?

That depends. The employer is obliged to investigate internally what the options are for the absent employee. If these possibilities fit the employee's workload capacity then the employee should accept it. The findings of the company doctor are leading in this. The above is not the case if the employee has found a job elsewhere.

Specialists

What does a company doctor do?

The role of a company doctor is broad and very diverse. In cases of absenteeism, the company doctor assesses whether there is incapacity for work based on a medical cause or defect. The company doctor describes the possibilities and limitations with regard to work. The company doctor can also recommend interventions aimed at recovery, reintegration and sustainable employability of employees.

What does an employment expert (Arbeidsdeskundige) do?

An employment expert examines what structural possibilities there are for suitable work within one's own organisation as well as outside one's own organisation. The labour expert writes his findings in a report, which serves as a guideline for the continuation of the reintegration.

What does a casemanager do?

The case manager plays an important role within the reintegration process of a sick employee. The case manager advises (ex-)employer and employee and ensures that the right steps are taken and that the right parties are involved. The goal is to reintegrate the employee as quickly and sustainably as possible. This is in the interest of employee and (ex-)employer.

What does an insurance doctor do?

An insurance doctor assesses the medical condition and work ability of people who are ill for a long time and therefore may be claiming disability benefits, such as the WIA (Work and Income according to Labour Capacity Act).

What does a reintegration consultant do?

A reintegration consultant at Vitaal! provides guidance in a 2nd track process. Reintegration 2nd track is aimed at resuming work outside your own organisation. The reintegration consultant at Vitaal! supports you as an employee to achieve a sustainable placement with a new (former) employer. This ensures that you can get back to work. For you as an employee, this means a start in a well-suited job and better future prospects.

Frequently asked questions from employees