Dutch employment law advice for employees
Clarity about your legal position and options
I primarily advise employees who expect to receive, or have already been offered, a settlement agreement. I assess your legal position, review the proposed terms when available and give you a clear recommendation on how to proceed.
If a settlement agreement has already been offered, the response deadline may be short. You can request a 15-minute introductory call so we can quickly establish whether I can assist.
Experience on both sides of the table
Clear advice from a lawyer who knows how these negotiations work
I have reviewed and negotiated settlement agreements for many years, for both employees and employers. Having worked on both sides, I understand not only your legal position, but also how employers approach these negotiations, the considerations behind their proposals and where there may still be room to improve the terms.
Receiving a settlement agreement can be unsettling, particularly if the proposal was unexpected. My role is to bring structure to the situation, explain the legal and practical implications of the proposal and give you a clear recommendation on how to proceed. I regularly advise employees working for international companies and employees who need Dutch employment law explained in clear English.
When I can assist
When termination is being discussed or proposed
I most often advise employees who expect to receive, or have already been offered, a settlement agreement in one of the following situations.
01
Redundancy for business reasons
02
Performance concerns
03
Workplace conflict or a strained working relationship
A clear process
From first call to a clear recommendation
01
Introductory call
We briefly discuss your situation and the reason you are seeking legal advice, including any proposal or response deadline that may be relevant. I determine whether I can assist and explain the next step. The introductory call does not include a legal review of your documents.
02
Detailed intake form and documents
If we proceed, you complete a detailed intake form, which specifies the documents I need you to provide for a structured review, including the settlement agreement where relevant.
03
Legal review and online meeting
Once I have received your completed intake form and documents, I promptly assess your legal position and review the proposed settlement agreement and other relevant documents. We then discuss my findings in an online meeting. I explain the legal and practical points relevant to your decision and advise you on what to do next, including whether there may be reason to seek better terms.
04
Negotiation if needed
If the review indicates that there may be reason to seek better terms and you would like me to continue assisting you, I can negotiate with your employer or its advisor on your behalf.
Clear fees from the outset
An agreed fixed fee for the initial review and advice
The initial stage includes an assessment of your legal position, a review of your settlement agreement and other relevant documents, and an online meeting to discuss my findings and advice. We agree a fixed fee for this work in advance, so you know the cost before we begin. If you would like me to negotiate with your employer after the review, we will agree in advance how I will assist you during that next stage.
When an employer in the Netherlands offers a settlement agreement, it is common for the employer to pay all or part of the employee’s legal fees.
