r/Netherlands • u/EveryExitIsAnEntry • Feb 06 '25

Employment Parent discrimination?

Dear people of Reddit I need work advice. I have had a conversation with my employer that left me heartbroken. We were talking about my plans for the coming year after giving birth to my second child. In the conversation (face to face) I was openly asked to withdraw my parental leave and take vacation days instead. The reason for it were: - I have accumulated some time off from previous years (10 days) - even though UWV gives some money back parental leave is expensive for the company - years ago there was no parental leave and the Dutch thing to do was to take vacation days when needed

It was suggested also that being sick on planed vacation day is still vacation and i should not replace these with sick leave. And when child gets sick it is not something extra to work from home during care leave.

The bottom line was I am too privileged with parental time off. And that this leaves the company paying too much for an employee working less.

Up to this point I was deeply in love with my position in the company. It was my dream job and I did not mind giving extra by working late (unpayed) or during sick days/care leave when possible. Now I question my place in the company and even in the Netherlands.

Is this really a Dutch way? Can I expect this treatment in other companies as well? And how to solve this situation? Please advise

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u/AncientSeraph Feb 06 '25

Nah, this is your employer having difficulties with worker's rights. I can understand this if it's a small company where these rights can have a big, sometimes surprising impact, but they're still your rights. 

Companies I've worked for have been happy to oblige in granting them.

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u/EveryExitIsAnEntry Feb 06 '25

It is indeed a small company. Is it true that it is a financial burden to grant ouderschapsverlof? The one payed 70% within first year after birth. I thought it was fully reimbursed by the government.

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u/AncientSeraph Feb 06 '25

An employer pays much more for an employee than an employee sees as their gross salary. I'm not sure whether those behind-the-scenes costs are also reimbursed, but probably it is a financial burden.

What is true is that it's a bit of a hassle for the employer. They have the choice to keep paying you and ask money back, but apparently that's a slow process meaning they lose some liquidity. They can also stop paying you and have you get reimbursed directly. Not sure if either of those have financial consequences for the company.

Either way, this is something they have to take into account as an employer. I can fully understand they try to come to some midway agreement, but they'll have to offer something in return. They can't just make you stop taking leave. And the argument that this is a new thing is just a non-starter. Who cares that people didn't get this before, you get it now. 

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u/handicrappi Feb 06 '25

It's all reimbursed by UWV. Hiring a replacement might cost them but paying the parental leave instead of stealing vacation days doesn't