When an employee ends up in absenteeism, you naturally want him or her to return to work as soon as possible and, in fact, to avoid (long-term) failure. It is therefore necessary to investigate what reintegration possibilities there are. This can be done with a Occupational health assessment. The report of this investigation provides advice on suitable work. The Occupational Assessor does this by answering a number of research questions, where there is a constant weighing of the employee's load capacity and the load in the job. Despite the fact that having the employee return to their own work is the highest priority, unfortunately this is no longer always appropriate. But what options are available?

What is meant by suitable work?

The Civil Code (Article 7:658a paragraph 4) defines suitable work as follows: "all work that is calculated for the employee's strengths and abilities, unless acceptance cannot be required of the employee for physical, mental or social reasons."

In other words, it must be work that can reasonably be assigned to the employee. Taking into account education, work experience, salary and limitations of the employee in question. In this case, labor experts speak of suitable work.

1st track

The Occupational Assessor investigates whether the employee can return to his or her own work, with or without modifications or accommodations. If not, the Occupational Assessor investigates whether there is other work at the company that the employee can perform.

Reintegration activities aimed at finding suitable work within one's own organization are called 1st track .

When you as an employer have an absentee employee, you are responsible for reintegration and have an active role in finding suitable work within your company. This includes offering the employee suitable work.
The larger the company, the more vacancies there will be in various positions. And the more likely it is that suitable work will be available. But on the other hand, a small organization is more likely to provide the opportunity to create a position that does fit and is closer to the employee's needs.

When looking for suitable work, you can also look at organizations connected to your own company. This again increases your chances of finding suitable work. A Occupational Assessor will help you identify suitable work for your laid-off employee within your organization.

2nd track

It may also be that an employee can no longer be employed by his or her own organization. The reintegration activities are then aimed at finding suitable work outside the own organization. This is also called 2nd track . The goal is to increase the employee's chances of returning to work as much as possible.

A second track program must be started no later than 6 weeks after the 52nd week of absence, or 6 weeks after the first-year evaluation. Reintegration activities in 2nd track can only be omitted if within 3 months there is a concrete perspective of structural work resumption, within the own organization in suitable work.

The suitable work can be the employee's own work, modified or other suitable work, as long as it fits well with the employee's workload capacity.

Go for the best match

Together with the employee, we look at what he or she can and wants to do. Would you like to know more about what Puls can do for your organization? Check out the websites and contact us. We would be happy to help you further.