In practice, the terms "wage suspension" and
"wage freeze" are often mistakenly used interchangeably
in the Netherlands, with potentially dire consequences for the
employer. The key differences between the two wage penalties are
discussed below, along with a notable case that provides some
protection for employers.
Wage Suspension
An employer may suspend its obligation to pay wages if a sick
employee fails to comply with reasonable written requirements to
provide information that establishes their entitlement to those
wages. This may, for instance, include seeing the company
doctor.
The employee is not entitled to payment of wages during the
suspension period. Once the employee starts complying, however, the
employer will need to pay the wages regardless and will need to do
so retroactively. This may mean that a wage suspension is less
effective; if the employee starts to cooperate just before the
monthly wage payment, they will not feel the impact of the
