Do you work irregular hours? More rights are provided under new employment law
In order to make it simpler to combine jobs, the regulations also prohibit companies from prohibiting employees from accepting a second employment contract or from engaging in volunteer activity. However, employers will still be entitled to prevent employees from taking on a second job if doing so would mean they violated the rules on working hours, such as by working nights after a full day, for example.
The new laws also make permanent contracts and flexible working hours more strictly governed in the Netherlands, giving employees greater freedom to request changes. According to Michelle Vrolijk of Vallenduuk Transport Advocaten, a driver can be required to be available all five days of a part-time contract for 20 hours per week, for instance.
The employer does not have to agree, but they must give a good reason why they do not, she said. The driver could now request a modification in that circumstance.
Additionally, employers will no longer be allowed to request reimbursement for training programs that a person must undergo in order to perform their job should they leave the company early. Additionally, they will be required to pay their staff while they attend classes.
