for example every second employer has no guideline on when to contact an occupational physician in case of sickness absence employer sanctions are frequent in one in five sickness absences longer than two years employers fail to meet their obligations and as a sanction have to continue sick pay at the same level for a third year for example it is important that the employment system and the employment service providers identify mental illness of jobseekers early on to prevent longterm unemployment and the sliding into disability benefit dependence