Absenteeism insurance

Definição

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.

Exemplo

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

Porque é um risco para a empresa

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.

Como gerir

• 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.

Referências jurídicas

• BW 7:925 Dutch Civil Code: insurance contract Direito neerlandês

Salvo indicação em contrário, as referências remetem para o direito neerlandês (Burgerlijk Wetboek, o Código Civil neerlandês); os instrumentos da UE, como o RGPD, aplicam-se em toda a UE. Esta é informação geral, não constitui aconselhamento jurídico. Outras jurisdições tratam estes conceitos de forma diferente. Verifique o texto em vigor e a sua situação com um advogado qualificado.