Employment contracts

Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish an employment contact from an agreement to carry out work.

However, the legal consequences are very different.

Characteristics of an employment contract

  • The employee carries out the work himself.
  • The employer pays the employee a salary for the work that is carried out.
  • There is a hierarchical relationship between the employer and the employee.

The employment contact is legally concluded with an offer which is accepted. This agreement does not necessarily have to be drawn up in writing. A signed contract is not necessary. As soon as parties have reached a verbal agreement, they are bound by it. In addition, the employment contract can also be concluded tacitly when one party carries out paid work in the service of another party.

The agreement

Obviously it is sensible to confirm the agreement in writing in an employment contract. This prevents arguments about the exact conditions at a later stage. In some cases the employer is obliged to do so because of the applicable collective employment agreement. In addition, some clauses always have to be drawn up in writing. For example, a non-competition clause or a clause about a trial period is only valid if it has been drawn up in writing.

There are some things which the employer must always confirm to the employee in writing as soon as there is an employment relationship, for example, the name and place of residence of the employer and the employee, the place where the work is to be carried out, the position of the employee, the start date of the employment, whether an open ended contract has been agreed upon, or, in case of a fixed term contract the duration of the employment, the applicable notice period and the applicable collective employment agreement.

Employers and employees should always take a critical look at the content of the employment contract. The conditions which are included in an employment contract are not always binding. For example, some employment conditions can be superseded by peremptory rules arising from the law or from the applicable collective employment agreement.

More information

GMW lawyers will be happy to help you with all your employment-related legal issues. If you have any questions, please contact us directly using the enquiry form below or +31 (0)70 3615048. Our pension and employment lawyers will be happy to support and advise you.

More employment law related topics >

Lawyers

Previous slide
Next slide
Mark Dijkstra

Mark Dijkstra

Employment law Read more about this lawyer
Anja Blijham

Anja Blijham

Employment law Read more about this lawyer
Seliz Demirci

Seliz Demirci

Employment law Read more about this lawyer
Amber Willemsen

Amber Willemsen

Employment law Read more about this lawyer
Godelijn Boonman

Godelijn Boonman

Employment law Read more about this lawyer
Hans van Meerten

Prof. Hans van Meerten

Pension law Read more about this lawyer
Koen Vermeulen

Koen Vermeulen

Employment law, Pension law Read more about this lawyer
Roos van Zaltbommel

Roos van Zaltbommel

Employment law Read more about this lawyer
All lawyers

Looking for an employment law lawyer in The Hague?

GMW lawyers will be happy to help you with all your employment law issues. Our lawyers assist both employers and employees.

Do you have a question? Please feel free to contact us.

"*" indicates required fields

newsletter?

You might also like

30 April 2025

Facing redundancy in the Netherlands?

If you’re employed by a corporation in the Netherlands and are facing redundancy, this article provides practical advice on how to navigate the situation.

Read more

Read more about

24 April 2025

Restructuring: selection based on suitability is permitted

How does an employer determine which employee is made redundant during a reorganisation? The reflection principle (in Dutch: afspiegelingsbeginsel) is the obvious statutory starting point.

Read more

Read more about

14 April 2025

Client or Employer?

Since January 1, 2025, the Dutch Tax Authority have resumed enforcement of payroll taxes, focusing on identifying false self-employment on the work floor.

Read more

Read more about

2 April 2025

Right of consent for works council in a group context

The works council has a legal right of consent when an employer plans to change a remuneration system.

Read more

Read more about

26 March 2025

Copying company information to a private email

In today’s digital workplace, employees generally have easier access to sensitive company information.

Read more

Read more about

18 March 2025

Holiday During Sick Leave: Is Permission Required?

What are the rights and obligations of employees who wish to go on holiday while on sick leave? In this blog, we explain the legal rules, the role of the company doctor, and the possible consequences if a sick employee goes on holiday without permission.

Read more

Read more about

17 March 2025

Obligations under the Collective Dismissal Notification Act

Under the Dutch Collective Dismissal Notification Act (WMCO), you are required to notify the Employment Insurance Agency (UWV) of the dismissal of 20 or more employees within three months. In this blog, we share some practical tips.

Read more

Read more about

5 March 2025

Building a paper trail in Dismissal Cases

Wherever people work together, employment relationships can be disrupted due to various circumstances. If an employer no longer wishes to continue an employment contract for this reason, the court will assess whether there is a valid ground for termination. In such cases, the dismissal file plays a crucial role.

Read more

Read more about

25 February 2025

Immediate Dismissal of a Sick Employee

During the first two years of an employee’s illness, an employer is generally not allowed to terminate the employment contract. However, there are exceptions to this rule. The dismissal protection does not apply if the sick employee is dismissed for urgent reasons, meaning they are dismissed on the spot (summary dismissal).

Read more

Read more about