03:02 Do you want to work on a mandatory day off? So you are usually unlucky

Because the company was closed that day, many employees have to take a day off after Ascension. But what if you want to go to the office? “In many cases you are unlucky, especially if it is offered from an employment perspective,” says Pascal Besselink, employment lawyer at legal service provider DAS.

If an agreement has been made about this in a collective labor agreement or an individual employment contract, employers can take compulsory leave.

“An employer plans to pass this on to staff at the beginning of this year,” says Besselink.

Employers can specify a certain number of days per year that employees must take one day off. This can be the day after Ascension, but also a certain period when the business is closed, such as during the summer holidays.

“These mandatory rest days should then be included in the employment conditions,” says a spokesperson for the employers’ association AWVN. “That means that agreements are made with the trade unions or the works council. Many employers do nothing when other companies are unavailable. So they stay closed on a day like this.”

“Employees who still want to work, don’t stand a chance”

Employers’ association says that if clear agreements are made, employees who still want to work are out of luck. “Even if you decide to go to work, this leave will be revoked.”

Besselink also points out that it makes little sense to argue against this. “In such a situation, the employer does not really open the company up to one person. If the employer has not indicated which of these mandatory days are on time, the employees can object. There is rarely a fight, but it is officially possible if the company wants it. lat.”

It is becoming more and more common for employees to change certain vacation days. “But the collective labor agreement must also state that, for example, someone may not be on an Islamic holiday. In addition, customization at HBO or company level is possible.”

In our country, we take an average of 25 vacation days per year. According to the AWVN, companies must prevent a holiday reserve from being created if employees do not take leave.