Reintegration obligations

If you own a company in the Netherlands and one of your employees becomes ill, you must work together with the employee to do all you can to ensure that the employee in question resumes work – if sensible – as quickly as possible. The employee can return to his/her original position, another suitable position within your organisation or a position with another employer.

Reintegration dossier

The Eligibility for Permanent Incapacity Benefit (Restrictions) Act (Wet verbetering poortwachter) obliges you to take a number of steps within a certain period of time. You and your employee have to draw up a plan of action. You have to maintain a reintegration dossier which records all agreements and activities. This dossier also includes for example the plan of action, the reintegration report and correspondence with the Occupational Health and Safety Service (Arbodienst).

Work and Income (Capacity for Work) Act (WIA)

After two years, your employee may be able to claim a Work and Income (Capacity for Work) Act (Wet Werk en Inkomen naar Arbeidsvermogen, WIA) benefit. You can then dissolve the employment contract. The Institute for Employee Benefit Schemes (UWV) assesses whether you and your employee have done enough to avoid a benefit being claimed. If that is not the case, UWV may reclaim the sick pay from you the employer.