Work stoppages and sick leave

Are you employed in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg? What do you need to know to qualify for sick leave? What are your rights and obligations in the event of illness? Just Arrived provides you with an overview of work stoppages and sick leave in Luxembourg.

Sick employee, what obligations in case of sick leave?

Are you sick and can’t get to work?

• Your first obligation is to notify your employer on the first day of your absence.

This information can be done by you or by a third party, if you are unable to do it yourself. This can be done by telephone or in writing . However, in the event of a dispute, you must be able to prove that you have informed your employer of your inability to attend work.

• You must provide a medical certificate from the 3rd day of absence.

The work stoppage certificate must be submitted to the employer and the National Health Fund within a maximum of 3 days of absence. In case of serious hospitalization and in case of emergency, the employee has a period of 8 days.

It is not mandatory to provide a medical certificate to your employer for absences of less than 2 working days, unless your employer specifically requests it.

Failure to comply with these obligations may result in the employee’s dismissal with immediate effect.

You must therefore notify your employer from the 1st day of your absence, and submit your work stoppage within 3 days,

• In the event of extended sick leave, the medical certificate justifying the extension must be sent to the employer and the CNS within 2working days of the initially scheduled return date.

If the employee becomes ill during his or her leave, he or she may reschedule an equivalent number of days of leave in consultation with his or her employer and upon presentation of a medical certificate.

Are outings allowed during a sick leave?

In the event of sick leave, the employee may not leave his or her home during the first 5 days of sick leave, even if the outings are authorized by the doctor.

Beyond the 5 days of incapacity to work, the employee will be able to leave his home or the place of stay indicated to the NTC only from 10:00 to 12:00 in the morning and from 14:00 to 18:00 in the afternoon.

The following exceptions are allowed:

• the 1st day for feeding needs after notifying the NSC
• to attend medical visits or summonses from health authorities related to the sick leave.

The CNS is in fact in a position to control the sick employee, on its own initiative or at the employer’s request.

These checks may be carried out from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the home or place of stay indicated by the sick employee . The absent employee must justify his absence. He or she may be fined.

Stays abroad may be authorized during an incapacity to work in certain cases. This is particularly the case for a serious illness or disability, the right to palliative care, the death of a loved one abroad, etc.

Sick pay

The employer is responsible for paying the sickness benefits of its employees who are unable to work up to the 77th day of absence. The National Health Fund takes over after 77 days.

The sick employee receivesfull net pay and benefits until the end of the month of 77 days of disability. Beyond that, he/she will benefit from the basic remuneration, supplements and accessories.

Check with your employer and your collective agreement to see if there are any specificities that apply to your company in case of illness.

Learn more about the world of work in Luxembourg and the health sector.

Burnout and burnout

In Luxembourg, 43% of employees say they experience stress at work. When do we talk about burn-out? What are the symptoms? How to react in case of burnout? How to treat it? What does Luxembourg law say on the subject?

Although burn-out is not currently listed as an “occupational disease”, it is nevertheless the subject of awareness and information campaigns, as well as training. Patients can count on the many specialists and organizations dedicated to their care.

How to prevent burn-out?

Burnout is a state of depression related to the work environment. This state generally comes from a difficult situation experienced at work, and which persists over time.

Burn-out is an emotional, physical and psychological exhaustion. The symptoms are generally similar to those of depression – although often less pronounced:

• Fatigue and feeling of depression,
• Irritability, emotionality, anxiety and feelings of insecurity,
• Feeling of failure, incompetence and loss of self-confidence,
• Difficulty concentrating, memory loss, loss of interest in work,
• Muscular pains (backache, migraines…),
• Cynicism towards work, dehumanization of relationships with isolation in relationships
• Feeling of incompetence, desire to abandon with a strong risk of collapse. In the most severe forms, there is a risk of stroke or infarction.

It is therefore urgent to act before it is too late. In the event of symptoms, it is advisable to consult your family doctor or a psychologist.

The Luxembourg law on burn-out

Burnout affects almost two out of every ten employees. No less than a third of them are at high risk of burn-out.

However, burn-out is not recognized as an illness in the Grand Duchy, unlike its Belgian and French neighbors.

However, more and more companies and associations are aiming to raise awareness of the problem among the working population. This is notably the case for the ASTF, the IMS, or the HR POG community. Training, information, advice and conferences are given to employees, but also to human resources.

Useful addresses on burn-out

Stressberodung

In collaboration with the Ligue luxembourgeoise d’hygiène mentale (LLHM), the Chambre des salariés is offering a free consultation service for employees suffering from stress at work. The aim of the “Stressberodung” program is to provide psychological support to workers, to help them manage their stress.

Consultations are held from Monday to Friday, by appointment, in the offices of the Chambre des salariés in Luxembourg-Merl. Individual consultations are conducted in Luxembourgish, French, German or English.

The number of consultations is limited to five in order not to create unfair competition with psychotherapists established in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg and Greater Region Association for the Prevention and Management of Stress

The Association Luxembourg et Grande Région de prévention et de gestion du stress (APGS) aims at preventing and managing stress-related pathologies.

People suffering from depression or burn-out have the opportunity to participate in physical and psycho-corporal activities, adapted to the participants and supervised by health professionals specialized in therapeutic education.

Careful! A medical certificate of no contraindication is required to participate in the activities.

Center for the Prevention and Accompaniment of Burn-out

The Burnout Prevention and Support Center (CPA Burnout) aims to create a space for listening and exchange around burnout.

It offers individual support, workshops and training, but also programs adapted to companies. The cell is composed of a multidisciplinary team of health professionals.

Cap prevent burn-out

Cap Prevent Burnout is a multidisciplinary support unit. It aims to prevent stress at work and takes care of people in burn-out.

The unit offers consultations, practical workshops and discussion groups. These activities are supervised by a team of complementary professionals: a psychiatrist, a coach, a neuropsychologist…

Wellbeing at work

Wellbeing at Work is an organization that specializes in promoting health and well-being at work. The latter offers support, action plans, conferences, coaching sessions and awareness campaigns.