Working in the Netherlands - Protection Against Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment may occur in a variety of situations: at work, school, within family care and in social work. 

Sexual harassment is a term that covers all forms of unwanted sexual attention and advances that are one-sided and imposed. It therefore differs from flirting between colleagues or friendly physical contact.

What can you do about it?

If you are subjected to sexual harassment at work, it is advisable to talk about it first. Talking about it without delay can prevent things from getting worse. In addition, no one can then blame you afterwards for not having spoken about it earlier. Whether or not you talked about it also plays a role in the decision taken (where applicable) by a complaints committee or the courts.

The best person to discuss the matter with is your employer. Under the Working Conditions Act 1998, your employer is required to protect employees as far as possible from sexual harassment and its adverse consequences. In addition, you can speak to the confidential counsellor of your organisation; more and more organisations have designated such a counsellor. The role of a confidential counsellor is to listen to the person with the problem and to advise on what can be done about it. Another possibility is to contact someone from the personnel department. They can inform you about formal procedures and possibly act as mediator.

If no appropriate solution is possible within the organisation, court proceedings may be the answer. Various options are then available.

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
Reproduction is authorised.

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