Back to basics for a moment: what is a PMO?
A preventive medical examination is a health check that you as an employer can (and sometimes must) offer your employees periodically. Think of a questionnaire about lifestyle, work pressure and health, possibly supplemented with physical tests such as an eye test, blood pressure measurement or lung function check.
The goal? To provide insight into the health and taxability of your team. Not to check, but to identify risks at an early stage. So that you and your employee can do something about it before it leads to sick leave.
The PMO is part of being a good employer and is regulated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Employees are not required to participate, but it is recommended. And as an employer, you are even obliged to offer it periodically.
Why should you do it? 5 good reasons
1. You prevent Sickness Absence early on
An employee with incipient back pain, sleep problems or stress may not immediately call in sick. But that does not mean that nothing is wrong. A PMO can reveal these kinds of signs in an early stage, before they become a real problem.
By catching it in time, you can work with the employee to find a solution: a work adjustment, coaching, physical therapy or extra support. In this way you prevent long-term absence and unnecessary costs.
2. You show that you care about your people
A PMO is also a powerful signal: "We care about your health." That may sound simple, but it does a lot to engage and motivate your team. Especially at a time when staff is scarce and employees have high expectations of their employer.
By offering the PMO in a positive way, you make it clear that you are investing in the people behind the work. And that is appreciated. It strengthens bonding and contributes to a healthy work culture.
3. You get data to make smart choices
The beauty of a PMO is that it produces anonymous group reports. In them you can see, for example, that 30% of your employees say they regularly experience work pressure, or that many people have trouble with their work-life balance.
Those kinds of insights are golden. They help you make informed choices: what interventions are needed? Should you put extra effort into vitality, reduce workload or open the conversation about mental health?
So you don't have to "guess" where things are going wrong - you know. And that makes your prevention policy a lot more effective.
4. You comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (and avoid hassles)
Not the sexiest argument, but an important one: as an employer, you are obliged to offer your employees a PMO. It is one of the basic obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act ( Article 18). Don't you do that? Then the Inspectorate SZW can ask questions, or even issue fines.
By organizing the PMO well, you show that you have your affairs in order. And that works in your favor, for example in an absence file or reintegration process in which you have to prove that you did everything possible to prevent Sickness Absence .
5. You commit to sustainable employability
In an ideal world, your employees would stay healthy, motivated and productive until retirement. But reality is unruly. Work changes, private life changes, the body changes. This is precisely why sustainable employability is not a buzzword, but a necessity.
A PMO helps you visualize the sustainable employability of your people. And to take action where necessary. Not reactively, but proactively. Not only when things go wrong, but to keep things going right.
How does it work in practice?
At ZekerArbo , we ensure that the PMO is not an unwieldy tool, but an approachable, practical and meaningful process. Here's how it works:
- We tailor the PMO to your organization. No standard questionnaire, but customization.
- Your employees complete a questionnaire about their health, work experience and lifestyle.
- Optional: physical measurements such as blood pressure, hearing or lung function (depending on your industry and risks).
- Each participant receives a personal advisory report, and possibly a brief consultation with an employability coach or occupational health physician.
- You will receive an anonymous group report with concrete insights and recommendations.
- Everything is AVG-proofed. Medical information remains confidential. You only get to see what is relevant at the organizational level.
When is the right time?
The right time? Today. Because the sooner you understand the risks within your team, the better you can prevent people from dropping out. Especially in sectors with a lot of physical labor or high mental strain, the PMO is a no-brainer. In ZekerArbo s portfolio, we are currently measuring these numbers:
- 40% of Sickness Absence psychosocially related.
- 14% of Sickness Absence physically related.
- 24% of Sickness Absence caused by disrupted working relationships.
But it is also valuable in smaller organizations or offices. Work pressure, screen work, poor ergonomics or stress are just as much risks. And prevention is still better than cure.
And if people don't want to participate?
Of course you can. Participation in the PMO is voluntary. But you can encourage participation by communicating it well:
- Emphasize that it is not about control, but about insight.
- Make it clear that the results are confidential.
- Show what you do as an organization with the results.
If people notice that you take the PMO seriously and actually do something with it, trust will naturally grow.
Want to know more? We think with you
Do you also want to start with a PMO that suits your organization? At ZekerArbo we help you from A to Z. We arrange the implementation, give advice on communication and provide a report that is really useful.
Approachable, professional and hassle-free. Together, we ensure healthy, vital and employable employees.
👉 Contact us today through the contact page and find out what the PMO can do for your organization.
