The conversation about medical complaints

"I'm not a doctor after all, so I shouldn't think anything of the complaints." Managers often struggle with this thought when an employee is absent for a long time. It often expresses powerlessness to take control of the absenteeism and move the employee back toward work. For all managers for whom this sentence sounds familiar, we have good news: you don't have to think anything of it. In fact, you shouldn't want to be involved in this at all. Starting a discussion about medical complaints with an employee will not get you any further in the process.

At De Arbodienst , we always believe that someone who is absent from work is actually experiencing limitations. Therefore, we don't argue about this. But in many cases, an absent employee is not an incapacitated employee. In about 80% of cases, the employee still has possibilities to perform work in an adapted or non-adapted manner. But how do we make sure that we still move those employees who indicate that they really cannot perform anything towards work?

We partner with the supervisor to discuss the employee's attitude and behavior. And that's something that you, as a supervisor, are entitled to know. Indeed, as a supervisor, you are the obvious person to know how your employee is put together. We will discuss how the employee behaves during sick leave and what attitude he or she takes when it comes to looking at usable possibilities and what behavior the employee shows. It is important that the employee himself feels responsible for the reintegration. You can encourage this by, for example, having employees first make their own plan to reintegrate. A plan that is proposed by the employee himself, is also more supported by the employee and therefore has more chance of success.

Putting aside the medical discussion and addressing attitude and behavior is not always easy. An employee sometimes tries to hide behind the complaints, and will gladly talk about them. It is important to recognize this and steer the conversation in a different direction.

Do you find it difficult to stay out of the medical discussion, and manage attitudes and behaviors? Contact your Labor and Health Advisor, your advisor can help ask the right questions and help you address employee behavior. Wondering what De Arbodienst can do for your organization? Then check out our services and contact us.