Working time

The law lays down a maximum working time of 9 hours per day and 45 hours per week, the average working week being 40 hours. The working week is usually organized over five days, with a mandatory legal minimum of one day of rest, normally Sunday. In all sectors it is more and more common that people make longer working days, which allows them to work only four days a week (maximum of 10 hours a day). Because this is not the regular agreement, an agreement has to be made with the employer.

Cultural behavior regarding to work

People from other countries often find manners in the Netherlands very 'easy', less formal then they are used to. There seems to be no strict hierarchy. Even on the work floor, there are no large distances between boss and employee, so it seems. Still there is respect for one another, but it hardly shows in the way they address each other.

Labor Unions

Most labor unions are organized on the basis of a specific religious, political, or economic orientation and belong to a similarly oriented central federation. Strikes are permitted but rare. However, collective bargaining agreements cover almost three-quarters of the labor force. Anti-union discrimination is prohibited.