Politics · Netherlands · 12 hrs ago
Dutch businesses should see two years of sick pay as an advantage, writer argues
Maarten Schellekens argues Dutch employers should embrace sick-pay rules rather than see them only as a burden.
Under the rules, employees who become ill continue to receive pay for two years.
Some business owners complain about the requirement, according to Schellekens.
He says Europe’s extensive social protections are something that the United States and China have not achieved.
He believes employers can benefit from this system, though he does not explain how.
The piece does not set out any proposed changes or next steps.
Maarten Schellekens argues that Dutch businesses should not view two years of sick pay as a burden.
He says employers can embrace the rules and benefit from them, despite entrepreneurs’ complaints.
Schellekens describes Europe as having an extensive social system that the United States and China have not achieved.
The opinion article was published by FD on November 8, 2026.
- Who
- Maarten Schellekens, the article’s writer, and Dutch entrepreneurs.
- What
- Schellekens argues that businesses should see two years of sick pay as an advantage rather than a burden.
- When
- November 8, 2026, the article’s publication date.
- Where
- The Netherlands; the article discusses European social systems and compares them with those in the United States and China.
- Why
- Schellekens argues that businesses can embrace the rules and benefit from them.
Dutch entrepreneurs who complain
Maarten Schellekens
Two years of sick pay
Dutch entrepreneurs who complain
Entrepreneurs complain about the rules.
Maarten Schellekens
Schellekens says businesses can embrace the rules and benefit from them.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Writer
- Maarten Schellekens
- Sick pay period
- Two years
- Outlet
- FD
- Publication date
- November 8, 2026
- Compared social systems
- Europe, the United States and China
What people are saying
It is absurd that employees receive continued pay for two years when sick.
Although entrepreneurs complain about those rules, we can also embrace them and benefit from them.