Dutch employment law training - practical guidance and local insights

Who should attend

This Dutch employment law training course is relevant to international HR managers and directors in the UK who have responsibility for employees in the Netherlands. It will also be useful to managers and directors who anticipate entering the Dutch market and who need to be aware of their responsibilities to their people.

Synopsis

It is commonly believed that it is difficult and expensive to terminate an employment contract in the Netherlands. Employee rights are well protected under Dutch law, especially in dismissal cases, but employers are able to swiftly adjust staff levels in their company to changes, for example a fluctuation in workload. A wide variety of options are available for employers to hire people in a flexible manner provided that the rules are used properly.

Led by a senior employment lawyer with extensive experience with international clients, this interactive course will give you a broad overview of Dutch employment law and gives insight in possibilities and pitfalls for employers in this key jurisdiction.

Programme

An overview of the employment law framework in the Netherlands

• setting the scene: the Netherlands’ labour market and legal framework
• what is so different about Dutch employment law?

Hiring employees, contracts of employment

• flexibility in contracts of employment; definite or indefinite term, on-call contracts
• practical advice on drafting terms and conditions
• sick pay, holiday entitlement and other typical contractual benefits
• restrictive covenants

Day-to-day employee management

• working time
• absence and performance issues
• equal treatment
• discipline and grievances: key differences to the position in the UK

Employee representation

• working with the works council: the relationship, pre-conditions and participation rights
• understanding how the works council becomes involved in personnel matters: preparing your HR team
• involvement of unions

Termination of employment

• ways of terminating employment
• protection from dismissal: employees versus managing directors
• collective dismissals: key points
• calculating severance pay

What’s on the horizon?

• developments with respect to severance pay and dismissal law
• other future developments in labour law

Download the full Dutch employment law training course programme.