Absenteeism insurance

Définition

Absenteeism insurance covers an employer against the cost of continuing to pay wages to sick employees, a statutory obligation in the Netherlands lasting up to two years. Policies are structured as conventional cover (wages above a deductible period) or as a stop-loss arrangement, and many bundle absence-management and reintegration services. For SMEs with limited reserves it is a key risk-management tool.

Exemple

When a key employee is off sick for several months, the absenteeism insurer reimburses the employer's continued wage payments above the deductible.

Pourquoi c'est un risque pour l'entreprise

The two-year wage-continuation obligation is one of the most significant employment cost risks for Dutch businesses, particularly SMEs where a single long-term absence can represent a material share of annual payroll. Businesses that self-insure this risk without adequate reserves can face cash-flow problems if several employees are absent simultaneously. Failing to meet reintegration obligations alongside the wage-continuation duty can also expose employers to sanctions from the UWV, including an extension of the pay obligation beyond two years.

Comment le gérer

• Calculate the maximum two-year wage exposure for your workforce and compare it to your reserves; if there is a gap, insurance covers it.
• Choose a deductible period that matches your financial resilience: a longer own-risk period lowers premiums but increases your direct exposure in the early weeks of absence.
• Follow the reintegration obligations set by the Wet verbetering poortwachter diligently, as failures can result in UWV sanctions that extend wage-continuation costs.
• Use the absence-management services bundled with many verzuimverzekering policies to reduce duration and support early reintegration.

Références juridiques

• BW 7:925 Dutch Civil Code: insurance contract Droit néerlandais

Sauf mention contraire, les références renvoient au droit néerlandais (Burgerlijk Wetboek, le Code civil néerlandais) ; les instruments de l'UE tels que le RGPD s'appliquent dans toute l'UE. Il s'agit d'informations générales, pas de conseils juridiques. D'autres juridictions traitent ces concepts différemment. Vérifiez le texte en vigueur et votre situation avec un avocat qualifié.