🔀 An employee can reintegrate in various ways. Key considerations include:
- Is the reintegration process formal or informal?
- Can the employee return to their previous role with or without adjustments?
- Is partial return to work an option?
⚖️ Legislation: Effective October 1, 2022, significant changes are introduced to the reintegration trajectory for disabled employees (Reintegration trajectory 2.0).
- The new scheme applies immediately to ongoing reintegration processes without transitional measures.
- The rules concerning medical force majeure remain unchanged pending further legislative developments.
- Reintegration can occur through either an informal or formal process, subject to approval from the health insurance fund's advisory doctor.
In an informal reintegration process, there are no set administrative procedures or deadlines. The focus is on collaboration between the employee, employer, and occupational physician to find a mutually satisfactory solution, promoting a comfortable return to work.
🤝 Collaboration: Trust among the treating physician, occupational physician, employee with an acquired brain injury, and employer is essential for the success of an informal reintegration process.In a formal reintegration process, there is a documented administrative procedure initiated by either the employee or employer. The prevention advisor-occupational physician makes decisions based on the individual's ability to resume work, potentially with adjustments or alternative tasks.
Can the employee return to their previous position with or without adjustments?
- Yes, returning to the previous position may be feasible with government support if necessary adjustments are made.
- 💰 Support: If returning to the previous role is not viable, the employee can transition to a new adapted position tailored to their abilities and limitations due to a brain injury. Employment support measures are available from the government to address efficiency loss or reduced resilience.
Can the employee partially resume work?
- 💪 Importance: Partial return to work is crucial for employees with brain injuries.
- Partial resumption of work is not an entitlement but a gesture of goodwill from employers.
- Reasonable adjustments should be provided, and if deemed unreasonable, employers can refuse them. If full return is not possible, seeking additional assistance or guidance is recommended. Varying work volumes allow employees to pace their return according to their recovery process. Health insurance fund approval is required for partial return, with notification necessary at least one day before resuming work.