And all at once, summer collapsed into fall ...
Once fall has arrived, you know things are moving. The heat of summer is gradually turning into autumn colours, the summer holidays are behind us for another year and perhaps you are already looking for ideas for your next exciting or relaxing adventure.
Hopefully the summer has done you good, you’re relaxed, resilient and keen to get on with your work.
Whereas in the last newsletter we focused on a healthy lifestyle, we will now take a moment to consider what it means if you do should fall ill, or suffer from a chronic condition, which – much against your will – would oblige you to rest and focus on your recovery.
Sick, Bad luck and Influence
“Sick” is a broad concept. In this article, we use the term “sick” to speak about the flu, but even so about burnout, a broken leg or a serious intestinal inflammation. You can experience sickness as an unpleasant state of being which can last long or short, but which takes place within a limited period. There is also such a thing as long-term sickness, which we call chronic illness. Examples of this are asthma, diabetes, depression, rheumatism, eczema, anorexia, cardiovascular disease or cancer. Sometimes sickness – acute or chronic – is very serious and has severe consequences. It is also possible for someone to have a chronic illness and rarely feel very troubled by it.
Sickness can overcome anyone. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can exert a positive influence on this, which means that healthy eating and frequent exercise, regular sleep and relaxation are important in your life. In addition, a positive attitude and the ability to let go of things that cease to be useful to us, are good for our well-being.
“Self-knowledge is the beginning of wisdom”, according to the saying, and you could do a lot with it in this context. We cannot, for example, prevent our tendency to develop an illness, but we can find ways of dealing with it in a healthy way.
Sick, Work and Behaviour
But what if you still get sick and it means you have to stay off work? What happens then? What are the agreements between you and your employer? Regulations differ from country to country, and often from one employer to another. We therefore recommend that you find out exactly what the agreements are in your own workplace!
In general, the following applies:
For a short period of absence, you come to an agreement with your line manager, consulting on tasks that will have to be taken over by someone else, and taking the time needed for your recovery. If you are often sick, this can imply something else is troubling you. If that is the case, or if it looks as though your sickness will become long-term, then it is important to discuss relevant matters with your manager, and make clear agreements. You do not have to say exactly what is wrong with you, but it is helpful if your employer knows which tasks you should be avoiding, and whether this may go on for a long time. That may sound cold and business-like, but experience has shown that a lack of clarity arising in the absence of clear agreements can become a major source of stress. Expectations may arise that can’t be met, and this can often lead to disappointment, anger or even conflict. If things are clear, then you can agree openly together with your employer on the best course of action to take.
Sickness Absence and Reintegration
Sometimes sickness makes it impossible to work and there is no doubt about it. We automatically associate sickness with taking a step back and resting, or starting treatment which demands all our energy and time. But it is also possible for someone to want to work, provided the work is adapted to what they are able to handle in regards of the time and tasks. Here too, it is wise to discuss this so that the pros and cons can be identified. A person who is ill is more fragile than normal. An employer is no medic, and does not immediately know how to approach someone who is not entirely fit.
But there is another side to this. Work is more than the performance of tasks. It is a distraction from illness, seeing colleagues, being involved, feeling challenged by a task. This can be a great aid to recovery! Legislation exists to support employees and employers in dealing with sickness and reintegration. Several parties are often involved, such as family members, the GP, medical officer or consultant. In principle, you as an employee, together with your employer, are in control of the process.
Legislation
Legislation on sickness absence and returning to work varies from country to country, although efforts are being made to keep these differences to a minimum. The Netherlands has the ‘Gatekeeper Improvement Act’ (Wet verbetering Poortwachter (2002). Working in accordance with the steps described in this law appears to have had a positive effect on the reduction of long-term sickness absence. Its purpose is to provide guidance to people when they are absent from work due to sickness.
https://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/ziek/ziek-met-werkgever/re-integreren-tijdens-ziekte/detail/stappenplan-bij-ziekte https://www.uwv.nl/werkgevers/brochures/werkwijzer-poortwachter.aspx
In Belgium there is a new (December 2016) Royal Decree concerning absence and reintegration, which leans towards the Dutch legislation, so that supervision of sickness absence proceeds in phases and can involve various requesting parties. Besides the employer and consulting doctor, it is also possible for the employee himself to submit a request for reintegration to the employer. The purpose of the Royal Decree is to facilitate dialogue in cases of sickness absence, so that better and sustainable reintegration is made possible.
http://www.werk.belgie.be/defaultNews.aspx?id=45447
In France, the occupational physician is the central actor of reintegration. In the event of an occupational disease, a maternity leave or after 30 days of illness, you can contact the occupational physician as specified in article L1226-8 of the Labor Code.
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