The employer has a duty to ensure the safety in the working environment. If this is violated and the employee is injured while working, the employer may be liable.
The employer has a broad duty of care regarding the working environment. For example, the employer must ensure that the workplace, machines and equipment are safe and must provide protective devices. The employer must also give instructions and take measures to prevent employees from being injured at work, and he must ensure that these are observed. If the employer’s measures are not adequate and an employee is injured, the employer is liable.
However, there are limits on the duty of care. In one example, there was a case in which a catering employee cut her hand while she was working. As this work was not very different to one commonly occurring at home, and it is well-known that the knife for cutting rolls is sharp, the employer was not held liable.
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.
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.
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16 July 2026
Love in the workplace: employment law considerations
Cupid does not let his arrows be guided by HR policies. That situations of love at the work place do not always come without consequences became clear again after the Coldplay concert end of 2025.
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29 June 2026
Pension compensation: a hot topic
Exactly one year ago, I wrote a blog about the impact of dismissal on eligibility for pension compensation from a pension provider.
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13 May 2026
Dismissal of an employee due to long-term incapacity for work
As an employer, you may terminate the employment relationship with a sick employee after 104 weeks of sickness. This can be done via a settlement agreement or with a dismissal permit from the UWV. But when exactly can you apply for such a permit?
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15 April 2026
What to consider with overtime?
Employment contracts specify the number of hours an employee works per week. However, employees may sometimes be expected to work beyond these agreed hours, especially when approaching critical deadlines.
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9 April 2026
Is an employer allowed to prohibit a dog in the workplace?
Employers have what is known as a right to issue instructions. This means they are authorised to unilaterally impose rules and guidelines on employees.
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30 March 2026
Help! Is my freelancer actually an employee?
That the question of whether an agreement constitutes an employment contract or a contract for services is still very much alive, was once again demonstrated this summer by two recent court rulings.
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11 February 2026
Love in the workplace: boundless?
What should be done if a romantic relationship between colleagues leads to tension and problems in the workplace? If such a relationship has a negative impact on work performance or the working atmosphere, is an employer allowed to prohibit a relationship between employees, or to impose limits? These questions regularly arise in practice and legal proceedings.
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22 January 2026
What to do if an employee does not cooperate with reintegration?
When an employee is (long-term) sick, reintegration is a joint obligation of both the employee and the employer. But what if the employee refuses to cooperate in this process? What can you do according to the law? What steps are required?
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15 January 2026
Works council’s right to be consulted in an international group
The works council (ondernemingsraad, OR) is entitled to all information that it “reasonably” needs to provide advice on, for example, a reorganisation.
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