{"id":5926,"date":"2025-04-15T09:47:46","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T06:47:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/what-should-you-do-if-you-disagree-with-the-company-doctor\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T15:45:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T12:45:18","slug":"what-should-you-do-if-you-disagree-with-the-company-doctor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/what-should-you-do-if-you-disagree-with-the-company-doctor\/","title":{"rendered":"What should you do if you disagree with the company doctor?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There may be times when you disagree with the <a href=\"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/definitie\/bedrijfsarts\/\">company doctor\u2019s recommendation regarding <\/a>your return to work. If the company doctor determines that you are ready to return to work, but you feel that you are not yet able to do so, there are several steps you can take. Below are some possible actions you can take.\u200b  <\/p>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 1: Meet with the company physician<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first thing you can do is talk to the company doctor again. Ask for the basis of his or her assessment. The company doctor likely has specific reasons for recommending that you return to work. It\u2019s important that you clearly explain why you think this isn\u2019t possible yet. This could be because your symptoms persist or your health hasn\u2019t recovered sufficiently, for example.    <\/p>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 2: Ask to be referred to your primary care physician or specialist<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your primary care physician or specialist believes that you have not yet fully recovered and need rest, you can ask the company physician to contact these healthcare providers. The company physician can then obtain additional medical information and take it into account in his or her assessment.\u200b <\/p>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 3: Request a second opinion<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the consultation with the company physician does not lead to a solution, you have the right to request a second opinion from another company physician. This physician will reassess the situation and provide you with advice. A second opinion can sometimes help clarify your return to work and any limitations on your recovery. The costs for a second opinion are generally covered by the employer. Please note: the advice provided in the second opinion is not binding, but the first company physician must indicate how he or she will address it.    <\/p>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 4: Expert Assessment by the UWV<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If both the original company physician and the second-opinion physician believe that you are fit to return to work, but you still disagree, you can request an expert opinion from the <a href=\"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/definitie\/uwv\/\">UWV<\/a>. This opinion is not binding, but it is often given significant weight in legal proceedings. The cost of requesting an expert opinion is \u20ac100 for employees and \u20ac400 for employers. The UWV aims to issue an opinion within a few weeks.   <\/p>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 5: Follow the company doctor&#8217;s advice<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until you have received a second opinion or an expert assessment, you must continue to follow the company doctor\u2019s advice. This is important to avoid legal complications with your employer. Stay in communication with your employer and let them know if you feel you are unable to return to work.\u200b  <\/p>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you disagree with the company doctor, there are several steps you can take to have your situation reassessed. From having a thorough discussion with the company doctor to requesting an expert opinion from the UWV\u2014you have various options for seeking justice. <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/video\/7330710096160361761\" data-video-id=\"7330710096160361761\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\"> <section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@arbeidsadvocaat.nl\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@arbeidsadvocaat.nl?refer=embed\">@arbeidsadvocaat.nl<\/a> <p>Niet eens met de bedrijfsarts..!? <a title=\"arbeidsadvocaat\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/arbeidsadvocaat?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#arbeidsadvocaat<\/a> <a title=\"arbeidsrecht\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/arbeidsrecht?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#arbeidsrecht<\/a> <a title=\"rechten\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/rechten?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#rechten<\/a> <a title=\"ziek\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/ziek?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#ziek<\/a> <a title=\"advocaat\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/advocaat?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#advocaat<\/a> <\/p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c origineel geluid - Stijn Blom\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/origineel-geluid-7330710157022333729?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">\u266c origineel geluid &#8211; Stijn Blom<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/KF_6364_def-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2551\" style=\"width:406px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/KF_6364_def-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/KF_6364_def-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/KF_6364_def-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/KF_6364_def-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/KF_6364_def.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This blog was written by Stijn Blom, Esq., an employment law attorney at Arbeidsadvocaat.nl B.V. Stijn has extensive experience in employment law and assists employers and employees on a daily basis with a wide range of employment law issues.  From dismissal cases to drafting watertight agreements and policies\u2014with his practical and personalized approach, he helps employers and employees move forward. Want to learn more? Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/over\/team\/stijn-blom\/\">Stijn&#8217;s page<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arbeidsadvocaat.nl is happy to assist you if you have any questions about sick leave policies. Please feel free <a href=\"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">to contact us <\/a>.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>April 2025<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction There may be times when you disagree with the company doctor\u2019s recommendation regarding your return to work. If the company doctor determines that you are ready to return to work, but you feel that you are not yet able to do so, there are several steps you can take. Below are some possible actions [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":5927,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"navigation_state":true,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclude"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5926"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5926\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}