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Draft translation. The rules concern Dutch employment law; have their application to your situation assessed. About our content
Work & rights · practical guides · Sickness & reintegration

I am ill and need to return to work

During sickness, pay, medical guidance and work arrangements run alongside one another. Use this guide to clarify roles and agreements and to address a disagreement promptly through the appropriate route.

Sources (24)View the sources usedSources current as of:
Your route in three steps

Choose your next step

Record the starting position

Report sickness according to the applicable absence protocol and record your first day of illness. Keep arrangements about availability and contact with the occupational physician. Distinguish the organisational information your employer needs from the physician’s medical assessment.

Turn advice into work arrangements

Discuss duties, hours, gradual increases and review dates using the medical advice as a basis. Record who will do what and when you will meet again. If the advice is unclear, ask for clarification; your own view of your capacity does not replace professional assessment.

Address stalled progress and the next step

If views differ, investigate whether clarification, a second opinion or a UWV expert opinion is appropriate. These routes serve different purposes. Check the consequences and required response promptly if pay is affected, your contract is expiring or a termination proposal arrives.

A practical example

An arrangement was understood differently

You believe two short working days were agreed, while your manager expects four days. Confirm the rota discussed in writing and ask for it to be aligned with the occupational physician’s advice. Describe the disagreement clearly without sending medical details.

My workbook

Gather these documents

Questions about this route

Are a second opinion and a UWV expert opinion the same?

No. A second opinion reviews an occupational physician’s advice; UWV can give an expert opinion on specified reintegration issues. Choose the route based on the actual disagreement.

May I refuse a reintegration proposal?

Simply refusing can have consequences. Explain your objections specifically, seek medical or legal advice where needed and continue cooperating in the search for suitable arrangements.

What if my fixed-term contract ends?

The end of the contract is a separate issue alongside sickness. Check in time which notification, documents and possible Sickness Benefits Act route are required.

Sources (24)

Sources and editorial notes

This preparation guide is our own editorial work. The primary sources below support the linked in-depth articles. Check the stated source date and obtain an assessment of any agreement or procedure for your own situation.

Sources current as of:

The source publications are in Dutch. All language editions cover Dutch law.

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