When should you engage a business psychologist in the event of Sickness Absence?

Mental health issues are a common cause of sick leave. These include stress, burnout, or depression. As an employer, you often notice this through small signs: an employee sleeps poorly, has less energy, becomes overstimulated more quickly, or has difficulty concentrating. They are no longer able to do their job as well as before.

This quickly raises the question: what can you do to help someone recover? And: when is extra support needed?

In such situations, ZekerArbo deploy an occupational psychologist. In this article, we explain when this happens, how it works, and what you, as an employer, can expect.

When is an industrial psychologist called in?

The services of an occupational psychologist are always arranged through the company doctor. During the consultation, the company doctor looks at the overall clinical picture and assesses whether mental health issues are playing a role in the Sickness Absence recovery.

If it appears that these complaints are delaying recovery or preventing a return to work, the company doctor may recommend consulting a company psychologist. This always happens in consultation with the employee and with you as the employer.

This does not involve long-term treatment, but rather targeted guidance that helps to get the recovery process moving again, with work as an important starting point.

How does that work at ZekerArbo?

At ZekerArbo , we ZekerArbo the deployment of a company psychologist as a temporary, additional step in the absenteeism process.

Following the advice of the company doctor, the employability coach (or your case manager) will discuss with you the goal of the support and what the process will look like. This includes the expected duration, the costs, and how the various parties involved will work together. Depending on your insurance, these costs may be (partially) reimbursed.

The employee then starts with an intake with the company psychologist. The counseling runs alongside regular contacts with the company doctor and employability coach.

What does an industrial psychologist do?

The occupational psychologist specializes in the relationship between work, mental health, and functioning. The guidance is practical and focused on recovery and preventing further absenteeism.

During the interviews, the employee works on, among other things:

reducing mental health issues;
recognizing stress and behavioral patterns;
increasing self-awareness;
strengthening mental resilience.

The work context plays a major role in this. It is not only the person who is considered, but also the work itself: the tasks, the workload, the expectations, and the collaboration. It is precisely there that the starting points for recovery often lie.

How does this relate to the company doctor?

The roles are clearly divided.

The company doctor remains responsible for assessing fitness for work and determining the reintegration steps. He or she indicates what a person can and cannot do at that moment.

The occupational psychologist does not make any statements about fitness for work. However, he does provide advice about mental resilience and the progress of recovery. These insights help the company doctor and employability coach to continue to effectively supervise the reintegration process.

And if the symptoms turn out to be more serious?

During the process, the employee's progress is regularly assessed. Sometimes it turns out that there is more going on, for example, symptoms of depression or severe anxiety.

In such cases, treatment through mental health services is often more appropriate. The occupational psychologist identifies this in a timely manner, discusses it with those involved, and advises on next steps. If necessary, he or she can provide temporary support until appropriate care is available, so that the recovery process does not come to a standstill.

Sometimes it turns out that there is more going on

Working together on recovery and return to work

At ZekerArbo , the occupational psychologist, company doctor, and employability coach (or case manager) ZekerArbo closely together. You, as an employer, also play an important role in this.

Often, a three-way conversation takes place between the employee, manager, and company psychologist. During this conversation, insights are shared and agreements are made about what the employee needs in order to return to work on a permanent basis. Naturally, this is done within the bounds of privacy.

The employee also draws up a relapse prevention plan. This plan outlines what helps to prevent symptoms and what support from work is appropriate in this regard.

How does this benefit you as an employer?

The use of a business psychologist helps to:

Sickness Absence long-term Sickness Absence ;
reintegrate more quickly and sustainably;
maintain control over the recovery process;
and reduce the risk of relapse.

You will not receive any medical details, but you will be given clear guidelines on how to approach the conversation and provide your employee with the right support.

Are you unsure whether this is the right step?

Do you have an employee with mental health issues and are you wondering whether additional support is needed?

Discuss this with your company doctor or employability coach at ZekerArbo.
Together, we will look at what will help most at this point, so that your employee can continue to recover and you can remain in control of the absence process.