The government's plan is to significantly amend the regulations concerning absent employees at work since the last federal government agreement. What can you, as an employer, do now? It is not always easy to know exactly what steps to take when an employee is (long-term) absent. What options do you have? And how do you concretely start such a procedure?
Depending on the situation, as an employer, you can consider three approaches:
Visit company doctor?
Is an employee absent for medical reasons? Then, through a visit to the occupational physician, you can gain a better insight into the implications of the health condition on the performance of the work. This assessment often forms the first step towards an appropriate approach.
Long-term absent?
Is an employee long-term absent? Apart from the employee's informal visit to the occupational physician, both the employee and the employer can submit a request to the occupational physician to initiate a reintegration process. In this process, it is investigated how and under what conditions the employee can return to work.
Permanently incapacitated for work?
The employee or the employer can request a determination of permanent unsuitability.
Has an employee been declared permanently unfit for work during this specific medical examination? Then, provided the legal conditions are met, the employment contract can be terminated due to medical force majeure.