In the unfortunate event you turn ill, the first 39 (university/institute) or 52 (UMC) weeks of your illness, you receive 100% of your salary. Then the salary is adjusted to 76% (university/institute) or 70% (UMC). After a full two years of sick leave, in principle, your contract is dissolved. Sometimes, an employer leaves employees in so-called ‘dormant employment’ (slapend dienstverband) to avoid paying transition allowances. The Dutch Supreme Court recently ruled that employers are obliged to put an end to dormant employment.
At your request, your employer may decide to extend your employment contract in the case of illness if there is a continuous period of illness of at least 8 weeks. Contrary to other forms of leave, such as maternity and parental leave, unfortunately, your employer is not obliged to extend the contract in the event of illness.
Your employer is not allowed to ask you about the nature or cause of an illness, nor are you obliged to share it with them. If you do share this information with your employer, they are not allowed to record it. However, they are allowed to ask for some information, such as how long you think your illness will last and whether your illness is related to an accident at work or due to a traffic accident.
Read more:
- CAOs:
- Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), which pays for various forms of leave.
