Learning and problem solving at the same time!

About HRM College

HRM College is a Dutch company which primarely focusses on servicing clients with staff in the Netherlands.

All our specialists are bi-lingual and all workshops, masterclasses and seminars can be given in english. Please contact us for more information. You can find our contact details at the bottom of this page.

The background of the course leader, Arthur Hol, helps to make the course/workshop as practical as possible, from an integral perspective: Arthur is a specialized labor lawyer / attorney-at-law who worked previously as an international HR manager for Royal Dutch Shell and KLM Cargo, having attained university degrees in both law and organizational psychology.

Below you will find an example of a course/workhop conducted in the English language:
of course scope and content of the course/workshop can be tailored to meet your requirements!

Dutch Labour Law & HRM

Please find below an example of an in-company course on Dutch Labour law & HR for a multinational company, operating in the Netherlands. Of course, this course can be tailored to your special needs and wishes.

1. One-day course on Dutch labour Law & HRM for line managers and HR Professionals
2. 3 hour presentation / workshop for Management Team
3. 3 hour workshop on business cases for Line managers, co-facilitated by HR professionals


(1) One Day course program The start- and end times are indicative only, to allow maximum interactivity and emphasis on the desired topics

Before and during the course: participants can send in or bring up current or closed practical cases for discussion purposes. During the course, reference will be made to best practices of relevant other multinational companies.

09:00 An overview of the employment law framework in The Netherlands

Introduction of participants and their current and or expected HR and labour law dilemma's & cases

Setting the scene: The Netherlands' labour market and legal framework

What is so different about Dutch employment law? Comparisons made with labour law of anglo-saxon and continental European labour law systems. Sensitive issues in Dutch labour relations

Current trends and developments

11.00-11.15 break

11:15 Hiring employees, contracts of employment, benefits, leave

Flexibility in contracts of employment; definite or indefinite terms; on call contracts, with due regard for the do's and don'ts when interviewing – for managers

The 'do's and don'ts' when discussing desired changes in terms and conditions of employment–for managers

An update on sick pay, reintegration efforts during sickness periods, holiday entitlement and other typical contractual benefits, including pension schemes, with due regard for the company's sickness procedure and outline of roles/ responsibilities with regard to the relevant Dutch, regulatory framework of the ‘WVP'and practicalities such as the timing of direct telephone contact, which questions (not) to ask

Parental leave, special leave & sabbaticals

Restrictive covenants (e.g. non-competition, non-disclosure)

12.15-13.00 Lunch break

13:00 Day to day employee management

Working Time

Absence and non-performance issues: requirements of a performance improvement plan – division of roles between employee, manager and HR

Reintegration efforts of employer (manager, HR) and employee during sickness periods

Right to privacy

Equal treatment/ discrimination / harassment

Discipline and grievances: how to deal with non-compliant behaviour of employees +illustration of importance to always consult with HR before doing anything.

14.45-15.00 break

15:00 Managing (non-) performance, labour conflicts & Sickness issues

all practicalities involving a performance improvement plan

labour conflicts: role of HR, company doctor, UWV and manager

Sickness issues: role of HR, company doctor, UWV and manager

Practical tips for file-building: what managers should (not) do

Involvement of lawyers

15:30 Termination of employment

Ways of terminating employment, via court, government agency UWV WERKbedrijf

Termination Agreements –what managers should know

Causes of termination: economic (headcount reduction or reorganization / performance / sickness

Legal proceedings: filing & court costs

Urgent dismissal criteria

Suspension with & without pay

16.15-16.25 small break

Warnings: how many and for same / different reasons? Importance of prior consultation with HR

Protection from dismissal

Calculating severance pay –what managers should know

16:45 What's on the horizon?

Developments with respect to severance pay, limited telework rights of employees and dismissal law

Future developments in labour law

17:00 End of course

During the course, cross-references might be made by the course leader, the in-house-legal counsel and the HR-manager(s) present to the HRM-framework and policies, as well as to the labour law of some other countries relevant to the company, as deemed useful

The background of the course leader, Arthur Hol, helps to make the course as practical as possible, from an integral perspective: Arthur is a specialized labour lawyer / attorney-at-law who worked previously as an international HR manager for Royal Dutch/Shell and KLM Cargo, having attained university degrees in both law and organizational psychology.

(2) 3 hour presentation / workshop for Management Team
The 3 hour presentation / workshop for the Management Team will be a condensed version of the One-day course outlined above, to allow maximum interactivity and emphasis on the managerial dilemmas facing the MT-members –as well as room for questions and discussion.
When discussing the HR and labour law topics outlined in the One-day course for Line-Managers & HR-professionals, focus will be on the more high-level roles & responsibilities of MT-members, as well as on their important role in the interview process:.

An overview of the employment law framework in The Netherlands

Sensitive issues in Dutch labour relations

Hiring employees, do's and don'ts in the interview process, contracts of employment, benefits, leave

Day to day employee management

Managing (non-) performance –highlights of the Performance Plan

labour conflicts

Sickness issues

Harassment issues

Works Council / Staff representation stipulations in Dutch law

Before and during the course: MT-members can send in or bring up current or closed practical cases for discussion purposes. During the presentation/workshop, reference will be made to best practices of relevant other multinational companies.

(3) 3-hour workshops for Line-Managers and HR-professionals
0900-13.00 (or 13.00-17.00)

Double aim:
(a) Deepening understanding of all Course topics by working on practical cases in subgroups.
(b) Becoming more familiar with the renewed HRM-framework and policies of Company X

All Cases will be tailor-made by HRM College –in collabouration with the company HR/training- to comprise all aspects of a topic, as well as allow focus on an all aspects of the renewed policies.

09:00 Follow-up on One-day course: & set-up of half-day workshop

Main insights, learning points of One-day course

Remaining or new questions of participants

New or expected HR and labur law dilemma's & cases

09:30 Case nr. 1: Non-performance issue

Explanation of case to group

Work on case in sub-groups

Presentation of proposed actions by spokespersons for each subgroup,

Discussion in whole group

Illustration by HR of renewed HRM-framework and policies

Additional comments by course leader, reflecting on course topics

10.20-10.30 break

10:30 Case nr. 2: Sickness issue

Explanation of case to group

Work on case in sub-groups

Presentation of proposed actions by spokespersons for each subgroup,

Discussion in whole group

Illustration by HR of renewed HRM-framework and policies

Additional comments by course leader, reflecting on course topics

11.20-11.30 break

11:30 Case nr. 3: Non-compliance & labour conflict issue

Explanation of case to group

Work on case in sub-groups

Presentation of proposed actions by spokespersons for each subgroup,

Discussion in whole group

Illustration by HR of renewed HRM-framework and policies

Additional comments by course leader, reflecting on course topics

12.15-12.20 break

12:20 Finalization

Discussing of remaining issues

Way of implementation by managers

Summary of main learning & action points by participants, course leader & HR

13.00 End of workshop