What will I learn in the Absence Management course?

You will learn how the legal rules on sickness absence and incapacity for work fit together. This includes the Wet verbetering Poortwachter, reintegration, pay during illness, the two-year period, dismissal after two years of illness and the obligations surrounding the WIA and the Ziektewet.

Who is this course intended for?

The course is intended for HR and personnel staff, managers and other professionals who deal with absence management. The content focuses on ordinary employment law, not on civil service law.

Do I need any prior knowledge for this course?

No, you do not need any specific prior knowledge. It is useful, however, if you already have some experience with HR or personnel duties, as you will then be able to relate the examples directly to your own work.

Do I receive a certificate on completion?

Yes, on completing the course you will receive a Learnit certificate of attendance. With it you can show your employer that you have mastered the legal basics of absence management.

What course materials do I receive?

During the course you will work with a syllabus setting out the main points of legislation and regulations clearly, subject by subject. You will also take home an up-to-date reference work on Dutch employment law.

Can I take this course in-company?

Yes, you can also take the course in-company. That is a good option if you want to learn together with several colleagues at once and tailor the content to situations within your own organisation. Contact us for a bespoke quotation.

What is the difference between being ill and being unfit for work?

Being ill means that someone feels unwell or has a medical condition. Being incapacitated for work means that, because of that illness, someone cannot do their own job. An employee can be ill without being incapacitated for work, and vice versa. Who determines whether there is incapacity for work is a separate question. That is usually the company doctor, not the employer and not the employee.

What does the Wet Poortwachter involve?

The Wet verbetering Poortwachter sets out what the employer and the employee must do during the first two years of illness. This includes a problem analysis by the company doctor, a plan of action, periodic evaluations and the first-year evaluation. The aim is for the employee to return to suitable work as quickly as possible. If you do not follow the steps properly, the UWV can impose a wage sanction, requiring you as the employer to continue paying wages for longer.

How long do I have to continue paying wages during illness?

As an employer, you are in principle required to continue paying wages for two years during illness. The statutory minimum is 70 per cent of the wage, but many collective labour agreements and employment contracts provide for higher percentages, often 100 per cent in the first year and 70 per cent in the second year. During the course you will learn exactly how to calculate that two-year period and which pitfalls to watch out for.

When can I dismiss an employee after illness?

During the first two years of illness a ban on dismissal applies, except in exceptional situations such as closure of the business. After two years of illness you can in principle apply to the UWV for dismissal, provided you have met your reintegration obligations and there is no realistic prospect of recovery within 26 weeks. During the course you will get a clear picture of the legal conditions involved.

What are 'vangnetters' under the Sickness Benefits Act?

‘Vangnetters’ are employees for whom the UWV takes over the continued payment of wages during illness under the Ziektewet. Examples include temporary agency workers without a permanent contract, employees whose fixed-term contract expires during illness, and sick employees covered by a no-risk policy. Separate rules on absence management and reintegration apply to this group. These are covered during the course.

What does the Absence Management course cost?

You will find the current price at the top right of this course page, together with the schedule, location and delivery format. For in-company or bespoke courses we are happy to provide a quotation on request.

Absence Management: Rights and Obligations

Name: Absence management: Rights and obligations in cases of incapacity for work
Price: 625.0 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 9.3 (1 reviews)

As an HR or P&O officer, sooner or later you will have to deal with an employee who is off sick. This course gives you the legal grounding to manage absence correctly, from the first notification of illness through to dismissal after two years.

Description

Sickness absence touches on many different rules: the Wet Poortwachter, employment law, the Ziektewet and the WIA. Your employee has rights, but also obligations. And so do you as an employer. Who decides whether someone is unfit for work? How long do you have to continue paying wages? And what if reintegration does not succeed?

During this course day you will get answers to those questions. The trainer explains the legislation and regulations clearly and links them directly to practice. You will be given examples from case law and may bring in your own cases. This shows you how the theory works out in situations you recognise from your own work.

By the end of the day you will know which steps to take, which pitfalls to avoid and which sanctions you can apply. You work with a syllabus and an up-to-date reference work on Dutch employment law, so that you can quickly look things up after the course as well.

Topics

The difference between being ill and being unfit for work
Who determines whether an employee is unfit for work
Employee who turned out to be unfit for work before starting employment
Obligations under the Wet Poortwachter
Instruments and sanctions in reintegration
Pay during illness
Calculating the two-year period, rules and pitfalls
Dismissal during and after two years of illness
Obligations under the WIA and the Sickness Benefits Act
Self-insurance (eigen risicodragerschap)
Safety-net employees

Result

After this course you will know the legal rules governing sickness absence and incapacity for work. You will know how to apply the Wet Poortwachter (Gatekeeper Act), what obligations you and your employee have and when you can impose a sanction. You will be able to judge for yourself how to build an absence file and what steps to take towards reintegration, WIA or dismissal after two years of illness.

Target audience

This course is intended for HR and personnel officers, managers and other professionals involved in absence management. The content focuses on ordinary employment law, not on civil service law. If you work in an organisation where you regularly deal with employees who are ill and you want to know where you stand legally, this day is for you.

Teaching method

The course alternates theory with practical examples from case law. You may bring in your own cases and discuss them with the trainer and the other participants. In this way you get to know the rules and discover how to apply them in situations you recognise. You will work with a syllabus that clearly explains the main points per topic, and you will take home an up-to-date reference work on Dutch employment law.

Prior knowledge

No specific prior knowledge is required. Some experience with HR tasks or personnel affairs is useful, as it allows you to link the examples directly to your own work.

Comments

This course is part of a series of three employment law modules: Employment Contract, Absence Management and Dismissal Law. The modules follow on from each other and can be taken separately.

Language

The training is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer has a good command of English. English-language course material can be used. With a minimum enrolment of 3 participants, the training can also be given entirely in English.

Number of days:

1 day

Course times:

from 10 am to 5 pm

Study load:

7 hours

Education level:

This training is suitable for all levels.

Exemptions:

Exemptions do not apply to this course.

Preparation time:

No preparation time applies to this course.

Certificate:

At the end of the course, a certificate is issued as proof of participation.

The best training for you

At Learnit you will always find a course that takes you further. From (technical) IT skills to communication or personal leadership. You can also choose the training format that suits you best: a classroom course, a tailor-made course at your own office, an online course or an e-learning. We have the right course and the right format for everyone. Because learning in the way that suits you best delivers the best results.

Moving forward together

Taking a training course at Learnit means learning together. Together with your experienced trainer, together with your course group or together with your colleagues. And whether you take the training at home, at your office or at one of our training locations, we are always available to help you. To share our knowledge with you in a way that is genuinely useful to you. Getting further together through personal attention and understanding each other well; that is what we believe in.

Apply it directly in your work

Learning theory from a book that you can then hardly use in your work? Not at Learnit! Whichever training you take with us, you can put it to use at your workplace straight away. Because of the unique learning objectives you set together with the trainer at the start of the training. Because of the alternation between theory and (interactive) practical assignments. And by bringing the challenges you face in your daily work along to the training.

Absence management: Rights and obligations in cases of incapacity for work course