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A pair of glasses provided by your boss. It might sound too good to be true. Yet, many people wonder if their employer is required to cover the cost of computer glasses . When are you entitled to them? And how exactly does it work? As more and more people work behind a screen every day, eye strain is receiving more attention.
Working at a computer or other monitor should not harm your health. This is laid down by law. If you get eye problems due to working at a computer, your employer must offer you the opportunity to have an eye exam. If that study shows that regular glasses or contact lenses are not sufficient to do your job properly, you are entitled to computer glasses. In that case, your employer must reimburse the costs. This obligation follows from article 5.11 of the Working Conditions Decree.
If you work with reading glasses and do screen work, computer glasses may even be necessary as standard to prevent complaints. Even then, you are entitled to a boss's glasses.
You need computer glasses if you regularly work at a computer or other monitor and therefore get complaints, such as:
Computer glasses are intended to reduce these complaints and make it more comfortable to work.
Whether you need computer glasses will be determined by an eye exam. This study specifically looks at your vision while working at a computer and assesses whether appropriate glasses are necessary to do your work properly and without complaints. Based on this research, it will be determined which solution best suits your work and eyes. Do you want to know if you need computer glasses? Take the test below.
Computer glasses are an occupational health facility when they are necessary to prevent complaints caused by working on the screen. This means that the glasses are not a bonus or an employment condition, but part of working safely and healthily. For you as an employee, this means that the compensation comes from your employer's duty of care and is not dependent on personal agreements.
Computer glasses can be reimbursed tax-free via the work-related costs scheme (WKR) when it is necessary to do your work safely and healthily. In that case, the glasses are seen as an occupational health facility.
In concrete terms, this means:
Source: Payroll Taxes Handbook of the Tax Administration, article 22.1.9
If you opt for a more luxurious frame or extra options on top of what you need to do your job well and healthy, that's just possible. The necessary part of the computer glasses will be reimbursed by your employer. For extra choices, you usually pay the difference yourself. This is because, according to the Tax Administration's Payroll Tax Handbook, only the part that is really necessary for work can be reimbursed untaxed.
Which frames fall under the scheme and which options may require an additional payment vary from employer to employer. The catalog of monitor glasses frames for employees shows which models are available as standard within the scheme and where you can possibly opt for an upgrade.
Many companies offer screen glasses, but not always in the right way. This white paper shows where things often go wrong and how you can arrange it properly.
Arranging computer glasses incorrectly leads to ambiguity, additional costs and risks, for employees and for the employer. Without a clear arrangement, discussions arise about rights, allowances and exceptions. This puts pressure on the budget and can become legal or reputational.
At Seeh, the arrangement is key. Rights, choices and fees are determined in advance. The process has been set up and the administration secured. This provides peace of mind and protects the employer budget. If you seriously want to arrange this, look beyond a supplier. Let our experts take a look at your arrangement and feel free to contact us.
Yes. If working at the screen leads to eye problems and an eye exam shows that regular glasses or contact lenses are not sufficient, the employer must reimburse computer glasses. This follows from the Working Conditions Act and is intended to prevent work-related health problems.
You are entitled to computer glasses if working behind a screen causes symptoms such as eye fatigue, headache or trouble focusing, and an eye exam shows that special glasses are needed to do your job properly.
That depends on your choice. The part of the glasses that are needed to do your job properly and healthily will be reimbursed. If you opt for a more luxurious frame or extra options that are not necessary for work, you usually pay the difference yourself. Which choices fall within the scheme varies from employer to employer.
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With more than 20 years of experience, Seeh is your partner in eye and hearing protection. Together with Hans Anders, we easily help companies in the Netherlands and Belgium find customized eye and hearing protection. With our solutions, you ensure that your employees can always work safely and comfortably.
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