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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The employment law specialists at GMW lawyers know that it is sometimes difficult for an entrepreneur to draw up comprehensive and satisfactory employee performance files, even though this is necessary for a good dismissal file.
In principle, assessing the performance of an employee is something which the employer should be free to do. However, from the moment that an employer has come to a decision either to impose a personal improvement plan on the employee or even to dismiss the employee, they are required to meet a large number of obligations.
For example, an employer is obliged to provide an employee who is not performing well with assistance and supervision to ensure that their performance can be improved to a desirable level. The employer also is expected to provide the necessary training for this, keep a close eye on things and document the progress of the entire process. The employee must ensure that their employer is strictly observing these obligations.
The law does not protect an employee who is obstructing the various attempts made by the employer to improve the employee’s performance. If the employee adopts a passive attitude towards the improvement process, or even refuse to cooperate, the employer can hold that against the employee.
In the case of poor performance, both the employer and the employee are obliged to try and turn the situation around before measures such as dismissal are justified. GMW lawyers advises to discuss the situation with a lawyer at the earliest possible stage. Creating a file and drawing up a carefully planned course for improvement are crucial.
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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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.
Read more
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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3 December 2025
Don’t count the number of warnings
That five official warnings do not automatically justify a lawful dismissal was once again confirmed in a recent ruling by the Gelderland Subdistrict Court.
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30 October 2025
Heineken employee facing termination? We offer legal advice
Heineken has announced a large-scale reorganisation, as a result of which many positions will become redundant. Those employees will be offered a settlement agreement to which a so-called social plan will apply. If this applies to you, please continue reading…
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10 September 2025
Does a Validsign signature equal consent?
Employment contracts can end in various ways. For example, a fixed-term employment contract often referred to as a “temporary contract” expires on the agreed date.
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27 August 2025
The scope of the redeployment obligation
Does your employer say that you have been dismissed due to organizational changes? Does this mean your position is no longer available?
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