General

This is what you need to know about the company doctor

If you cannot work fully or not at all for a medical reason, you will see a company doctor. The company doctor gives advice to your employer about your options for returning to work. But the company doctor is also there to protect you and must prevent you from returning to work too quickly.

A company doctor is therefore independent. However, it may happen that you do not agree with a company doctor. Or that you don't feel comfortable about the contact. Then it is good to know what your rights and obligations are. And how the AOb you can help if necessary.

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What a company doctor can, must and may do

An employer is obliged to engage a company doctor who will provide an objective opinion about your illness and your return to the workplace. The basic principle is that you can get back to work after illness or an accident. That's what you want, and that's what your employer wants. The company doctor assesses whether this is possible and what is required for this.

A company doctor will assess your fitness for work

Can you work? How much or how intensively could you work? Are adjustments needed in the workplace to be able to work again?

A company doctor analyzes the problem and your chances of reintegration

When can you work again? Can you get started right away or do you have to build it up slowly? Do you perhaps need guidance to get back to work?

A company doctor provides advice to prevent absenteeism

Is it safe and enjoyable to work? Does anything need to change to prevent failure and illness?

A company doctor is not only there for the employer. You can also ask for a consultation with a company doctor.

As a member of the AOb we will assist you and you can count on the support and expertise of our legal staff.

A preventive consultation to prevent failure

A company doctor is not only there for the employer. You can also ask for a consultation with a company doctor. For example, when you notice that you are experiencing health problems due to your work.

A consultation with a company doctor can prevent you from dropping out later. For example, by adjusting your working environment or working in a different way. Such a visit is called an open consultation hour, working conditions consultation hour or preventive consultation hour.

All conversations with a company doctor are confidential. It falls under medical confidentiality.

Do I have to share my medical data with the company doctor?: A company doctor needs your medical information to properly understand what is going on. For this purpose, the company doctor may request medical information from your GP or other practitioner.

In principle you are obliged to cooperate with this. But you can refuse this. Your GP or other practitioner needs your permission to share this data with the company doctor. If you refuse this, this may have consequences for the advice of the company doctor. This means you run the risk of being advised to return to work, even though this is medically unwise.
Does a company doctor have medical confidentiality?: It can feel very uncomfortable to share your medical data with a company doctor. That is why it is good to know that a company doctor may never share this information with your employer. Just like your GP and specialist, a company doctor may not share this information with others.

A company doctor may request your medical data

Your GP or practitioner needs your permission to share data

A company doctor may never share your medical data with your employer
What can a company doctor share with my employer?: Your medical data (such as diagnosis, course of illness, treatments and medications) are covered by professional secrecy. What can a company doctor share with your employer?

Which activities you can or can no longer carry out (still).

How long the illness is likely to last

To what extent are you incapacitated for work (what could you still be able to do, and with what intensity)

What your employer may need to adjust or change for your reintegration

An employer does not need other information about your health for the continued payment of wages or reintegration. This information falls under medical confidentiality.
What do you do if you disagree with the company doctor?: You may not agree with the company doctor's advice. Please discuss this with the company doctor first. Perhaps you did not understand each other properly or you can still explain or clarify something. You can also ask the company doctor to contact your GP or specialist.

Can't you figure it out? Then the employer will probably follow the reintegration advice of the company doctor.
Can you request a second opinion?: You can ask for a second opinion from another company doctor and another occupational health and safety service. The costs are borne by the employer. You can apply via your current (first) company doctor.

Once the second opinion advice has been received, you decide whether you share this second advice with the first company doctor. The second opinion is not binding. This means that the current (first) company doctor does not have to adopt the advice. However, the company doctor must then explain why he does not adopt the second advice, or only partially.
What is an expert opinion and when do you request it?: One option is to request an expert opinion from the UWV. Then an independent insurance doctor or labor expert will examine the situation. Both the employer and the employee can request an expert opinion. The costs are for the person who submits the application (about 100 euros if you do it, and 400 euros if your employer does so).

When can you request an expert opinion?

If you do not agree with the employer whether you can work fully again without adjustments

If you want to know whether the work you need or want to do suits your situation

If you want to know if you are doing enough to go back to work

If you want to know whether the employer is doing enough to help you get back to work
What happens to an expert opinion?: The outcome of the expert opinion is not binding. The employer does not have to follow this judgment if he does not agree with it. And the request for an expert opinion does not mean a postponement for the advice of the company doctor. So it is really intended as additional input from an expert.