SME Gatekeeper Improvement Act

With despair and tears in his eyes, he sits across from me. The 65-year-old entrepreneur runs a small SME car repair business and his only full-time employee has been sick for almost a year. That means that all this time this aging entrepreneur has had to keep all the balls in the air to keep his regular customers happy, which he is failing to do. The disappointment is great that customers have no understanding of his situation right now. He is repairing as fast and as much as he can, but in doing so he is completely overflowing himself. For the absenteeism of his employee this entrepreneur has understanding, but at his age he would have liked to slow down and enjoy the (grand)children together with his wife.

Als Adviseur Arbeid en Gezondheid MKB voel ik, Michelle Peters, de frustratie waar deze ondernemer mee te maken heeft. Naast zijn drukke werkzaamheden moet hij ook nog zorgen dat hij voldoet aan de eisen van de Wet verbetering Poortwachter (WvP). Als een medewerker arbeidsongeschikt is en onder contract staat bij een werkgever, is de werkgever namelijk verplicht de acties uit de Wet verbetering Poortwachter uit te voeren. Deze acties zijn bijvoorbeeld het ziekmelden bij De Arbodienst, een probleemanalyse laten opstellen door een (bedrijfs)arts, een plan van aanpak maken en meerdere evaluaties samen met de medewerker opstellen. De verplichtingen van de WvP gelden voor een periode van twee jaar óf tot het tijdelijke arbeidscontract eindigt (wanneer deze eerder afloopt dan de periode van twee jaar).

An occupational health examination and reintegration coach are also necessary when the second year of illness starts. As a Labor and Health Advisor , I know exactly what needs to be done and can help the employer. It is important that an employer remains committed to his employee who is absent. The guidance of a Labor and Health Advisor MKB of De Arbodienst can help and relieve them of this worry so that their full attention can be focused on their daily tasks.

My visit to this company and its owner allowed him to get his heart out, he was able to spar with me and he knows that I am monitoring the process. We discussed what the next steps in the process will be and so he can focus on the rest again. It was clear that it was quite a relief for him by talking to me about it.

The Labor and Health Advisor MKB supports employers and executives within SMEs with the Gatekeeper Improvement Act. Want to know what a Labor and Health Advisor MKB of De Arbodienst can do for you? Please contact us without obligation.

Are you talking to your absentee employee and want to know about reintegration options? Then get acquainted with sister label Puls, expert in the field of employment expert examinations, career coaching and reintegration. Puls will gladly support your employee during this process.