What exactly does the second track process entail?
A second track program is one in which a sick employee is assisted in finding suitable work with another employer. This trajectory is usually initiated after the first-year evaluation (around week 52 of Sickness Absence). From that moment on, as an employer, you should seriously look at reintegration opportunities outside your own company. Is there no more suitable work available within your organization or is your employee's recovery path uncertain or long-term? Then you must have started on track 2 within six weeks of the evaluation.
For small business owners - such as the baker, bicycle repair shop or café owner on the corner - this may sound like a distant concept. But the practice is simple: you as the employer remain responsible for reintegration, even if it takes place outside your company.
Legal obligation from the Wet verbetering poortwachter
The Wet verbetering Poortwachter ) is intended to limit long-term Sickness Absence . That is why the law stipulates that a second-track program must be started as soon as it becomes clear that resumption of work in the own company is not possible. This can already be done in the first year of Sickness Absence and must be started by week 58 at the latest.
Do you do this too late, or with insufficient care? Then as an employer you run the risk of a wage sanction from the UWV. This means that you will be obliged to continue to pay wages for longer than the normal two years.
Fortunately, you do not have to do this all by yourself. ZekerArbo guides you and your employee through every step of the way. Do you have questions? Our employability coaches know the rules and practice and help you as an entrepreneur to meet your obligations without too many headaches.
When is a second track job mandatory?
A second track program is usually initiated after the first-year evaluation (around week 52 of Sickness Absence). Is no more suitable work available within your organization, and is your employee's recovery process uncertain or long-term? Then you must start Track 2 within six weeks of the evaluation at the latest.
There are a few exceptions, though:
Recovery expected within 15 months
If the company doctor states that your employee will make a full recovery within 15 months and there is a concrete prospect of returning to work within your company, there is no need to start track 2 (yet). Think for example of an employee with an operation scheduled and a clear build-up schedule to full recovery.
No chargeability yet
Sometimes an employee is not at all fit for work at the time of the first-year evaluation. In that case, track 2 only starts as soon as there are possibilities again - and then you still have to have started the track within eight weeks.
When is a Track 2 track considered officially started?
This is a gray area. The UWV does not provide a concrete definition of an "official start date." One thing is certain: it is not the date of the labor expert examination, offer or application.
Want to get it right? Then make sure that real reintegration activities have been undertaken before week 58 of Sickness Absence . Consider:
- An intake interview for the track 2 process with the reintegration coach.
- A started counseling program with goals, actions and concrete steps towards other work. Such as creating a resume, actively applying for jobs and taking competency tests.
Together we ensure that everything is done on time, correctly and according to the requirements of the UWV. This reduces the chance of errors and wage sanctions.
