Rules and regulations for all entrepreneurs
The smoking of electronic cigarettes and tobacco products is banned from the workplace in the Netherlands. Smoking areas are also prohibited. Employees are entitled to a smoke-free workplace....
Environmental factors in the workplace, such as light, noise, heat, and cold (physical factors, in Dutch), may influence the health of employees. Employers must be aware of these risks and adapt their...
Do you recruit staff in the Netherlands? You are not allowed to ask questions about the health and sickness (absenteeism) of a candidate. You can only ask such questions during a pre-appointment...
Are you a professional truck driver, or coach or bus driver? Or do you employ professional drivers? For journeys within Europe, you must follow the rules for driving times and resting period in road...
Do you want to employ minors or young adults? In the Netherlands special rules apply to the employment of young people regarding the kind of work and their working hours and rest times. These rules...
If you own a company in the Netherlands and you or your employees work at height, you must take measures for fall protection. This is required by the Dutch Working Conditions Decree. When is fall...
If your employees are exposed to harmful noise levels, you must take measures. You have to prevent hearing damage. Employees should comply with the measures you take. Dangerous noise levels Do your...
Do you have staff? As an employer in the Netherlands, you must seek the support of an occupational health and safety expert to deal with certain tasks. You can for instance call in a company doctor or...
Are you a business owner with personnel? In the Netherlands, you have to designate 1 or more health and safety officers. A health and safety officer (preventiemedewerker) focuses on day-to-day health...
Entrepreneurs are, just like everyone else in the Netherlands, obliged to take out health insurance under the Healthcare Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet, Zvw). There are 2 types of healthcare...
Do you run a business in the Netherlands? Dutch government inspectors may visit your company for an inspection. You may receive inspections from government agencies such as the Netherlands Labour...
Does your company employ over 50 people? Then you must meet the requirements of the Dutch Whistleblower Protection Act (Wet bescherming klokkenluiders, Wbk). The law requires you to have a...
Personal protective equipment provides protection against accidents involving a person’s head, face, eyes, ears, hands and feet. The equipment must comply with the Personal Protective Equipment...
Some situations at work may cause severe physical or psychological problems to your employees. This is called physical or psychosocial stress. Employees may experience health issues, such as upper...
What is Legionella? Legionella is a bacterium that can cause an infection of the airways called legionellosis, or Legionnaires’ disease. Legionella bacteria may grow in water with a temperature...
If one of your empoyers becomes ill, you need to take several steps. If your employee stays ill for a longer period of time, you must work together on their reintegration. Reporting illness If you...
Do you have an employee who reports ill? In the Netherlands, you must notify the company doctor (in Dutch) or occupational health and safety service (Arbodienst) if one of your employees becomes ill....
Are you an employer in the Netherlands? You must report serious industrial accidents to the Netherlands Labour Authority (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie , NLA). An inspector will then investigate the...
Do you own a business in the Netherlands, and do you employ staff (including temporary workers, interns, and/or flex workers)? You must make sure your employees can work safely and healthily. You must...
If you own a company in the Netherlands and one of your employees becomes ill, you are required to pay at least 70% of their last earned wages. You have to do this for a maximum period of 2 years. You...
You have to provide a safe (working) environment for your employees and visitors. You must take company emergency response measures (bedrijfshulpverlening, BHV). A company emergency response officer...
Work equipment should not be dangerous to work with for your employees. If you have a company in the Netherlands that uses tools, machines, and installations, you must maintain these regularly and...
Do you employ staff? You must provide good working conditions for all your employees. Your staff must work in a safe and healthy workplace. This is described in the Working Conditions Act...
Do you work as a self-employed professional (zzp'er) or as a freelancer in the Netherlands? You will have to comply with most of the rules in the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) and the Working...
New and expectant mothers in the Netherlands have special rights with regard to working conditions. They are, among other things, entitled to adjusted rest times and working hours and a room for...
Do you run a business in the Netherlands and do you employ staff? Or does your business have its registered office outside of the Netherlands but you employ workers in the Netherlands? Then you must...