Rights and obligations to report sick

Inability for work

If you are ill or have had an accident, you will continue to receive a salary for a certain period of time. In addition, you may not be dismissed during this time.

If someone in your family is sick and you cannot find someone to take care of that person, you are entitled to three days of paid leave.

Illness

If you are sick or if you do not feel well during pregnancy, you must inform your employer as soon as possible.

Your employer does not have the right to ask about diagnoses.
As a rule, you do not have to submit a doctor’s certificate until the third day of absence. Check with your employer which regulation applies to you.
If you can only work a reduced workload due to illness or pregnancy, the doctor must state on the medical certificate the maximum number of hours you can work per day or per week.

Illness and termination

During the period in which you are on sick leave, your employer may not dismiss you. During the so-called blocking period, protection against dismissal applies:

during 30 days in the first year of employment
for 90 days from the second to the fifth year of employment
during 180 days from the sixth year of employment onwards.

Please note:

During the probationary period, your employer can terminate your employment even if you are on sick leave.