Employers increasingly face quarantine absenteeism. Employees cannot come to work and must be paid in full, but no claim can be made on absenteeism insurance. This is affecting more and more industries, employers’ association AWVN told NU.nl.
In the case of mandatory quarantine, employers are not allowed to report their employees sick. Only when an employee is really sick and reported sick, can the employer appeal to the insurance.
Quarantine-related absenteeism has previously occurred in public services, such as education and care, and is now increasingly affecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and industry. “If you are unlucky, you have to miss your employees a few times, because they receive notifications several times via the corona app. And how long will this situation last?”, AWVN lawyer Jan Mathies wonders aloud.
‘Stay at home even after negative test’
The AWVN cannot name numbers with regard to the absenteeism, but says it has received strong signals from the supporters that absenteeism is increasing. “This is increasingly becoming a problem, also for example in the industry where shifts are used”, says AWVN. “The workload is then moved and that starts to crack.”
Or a replacement must be hired. “If it can be found at all. And that leads to even more costs.” The risk lies entirely with the employer, the AWVN complains. The employers’ organization also criticizes the fact that employees who have been tested negative after a report via the corona app, must still remain in quarantine. “It’s a lottery with nothing but staples.”
Mathies therefore advocates compensation for the employers for the extra costs. “When a small employer, such as the baker on the corner, has to deal with multiple cases of quarantine absenteeism, it cuts financially.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) confirms that employees in quarantine should continue to be paid. The NOW scheme can provide relief where appropriate. “Provided the company has a 20 percent loss of turnover and also meets the other conditions.”
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