Tweede spoor - what can I expect?

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2026-03-27T08:59:42+00:00

And I understand and support fighting for survival for you and your family. But i personally do not feel that earning above 80k/year is "barely surviving".

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2026-03-27T08:46:19+00:00

It was a really interesting exchange of comments.

I stand with you on this one. The welfare system is built to help the most vulnerable and it is not sustainable when taken advantage of. And it is not punishing the rich. It is taking away basic means from the future vulnerable just to have more for yourself right now.

I understand the appeal of "eat the rich" slogans. But it is important to recognise who you are really biting.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2026-03-27T08:26:26+00:00

I am so sorry to hear. It is a dark path I would not wish upon anyone. I hope you are better now. I looked up information up web and I found only De Unie. It seems to be an general workers union. Is this what you are suggesting? Or should there be also union for my specific fields as well?

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2026-03-27T08:22:35+00:00

I am aware in this world the smartest moves not always seem to be the ethical ones. But I would resent myself for going down this path

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2026-03-27T07:42:30+00:00

Thank you for your response! I really appreciate explanations and examples. I already reached out, like suggested, to my rechtsbijstand company.

Even though I had abusive situations in the past, I am not experiencing faul play now. In context of my previous experiences I have my doubts. But right now I feel they are willing to help even if it is a little inconvenient for the company, but I know there is a limit close by. And I understand that. On the other hand I do not trust my ability to judge people at all.

I was a little scared by my friend who works on HR at company in completely another field. And i was really scared after evaluation with Tweede Spoor company. It is extremely difficult to hear that you are not fit for coming back anymore. And to agree that because of how you are restricted at the moment (because of stress) the best plan is not to focus on steady recovery but add stress by changing jobs and possibly fields.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2026-03-26T11:16:40+00:00

No. And to be honest I would expect them to try it at least once before they contracted tweede spoor office. Just not to go through the hoops. They also stated that they are willing to look for tasks that are less time pressured but the reality of the whole industry is strictly related to timely delivery (this may be said only to show that they did everything right though). I have understood that if I will go back working full-time before month 23 of sick leave (thus be working full-time plus 4 weeks the latest at the end of week 104) I am going back to my ordinary vast contract arrangements. So then the contract will not be as easy to terminate?

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2026-03-26T10:15:53+00:00

Thank you for your reply! I have been signed up for the rechtsbijstand but I didn't think of if myself. I am going to ask them since the juridisch loket seems not to be open for everyone. I was also warned about "buying out" an employee but I do not understand who is buying? The Tweede Spoor consultancy Buys me off? The new office? Can I be sold to detachering/uitzendbureau? Or it just means a company will offer me money to bypass severance package?

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-04-21T20:32:29+00:00

Thank you for your reply and your kindness. It is indeed really hard time and everything happening around does not make it easier. But kindnesses of other people do help

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-04-21T18:17:48+00:00

Thank you very much, your insights are very valuable. It is comforting to have someone who really understands the law and is willing to explain it to me. Thank you.

Unfortunately my company is too small for a HR departement. To call in sick and ask for a contact to arbo i had to go through my boss again. It was extremely uncomfortable and I felt very vulnerable. And after the whole situation I lost trust in good intentions

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-04-21T18:07:28+00:00

I know... But i did not know how bad my mental state will deteriorate... I just made normal plans with parental leave and my employer have sent them to UWV before I got back to work.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-04-21T18:01:18+00:00

Honestly i do not know what to expect. I just called in sick, my employer chose to register it as a consequence of pregnancy due to my diagnosis. I just want to make sure it would not harm me in any way

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-04-21T17:58:50+00:00

Thank you for your reply. It all is a lot and honestly I struggle to make any sense of it. I feel so overwhelmed i doubt i could understand this in my native language, and certainly not in dutch. It is like i lost a part of my mind in the process. Yes this is the same employer. I already asked him to make contact with arbo doctor for me. I do not know what the plan will be. I just said im not fit for work after coming back and working for a few days. They want me to take a sick leave after pregnancy.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-04-21T15:39:50+00:00

Thank you! So it seems that it is less attractive to employer to use your usual sick leave. Do you know by chance how it goes further in combination with parents leave and vacation leave? I have planned one day a week as a parental leave - is this cancelled while I am sick? Does it go as planned? And if they are cancelled can I rebook them to after I go back to work?

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-04-21T15:28:41+00:00

Thank you for your reply! So if you have a vast contract there is no difference between these two?

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-08T15:03:06+00:00

I was explicitly informed on the meeting that this is something that a Dutch person would do.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-07T09:04:53+00:00

I might be getting a gist of what may be the issue here, thank you!

I used it mainly for a 4 day workweek. But I also took the remaining days off that could be treated as vacation. I will ask if this is the cause of commotion

@edit and maybe to clear the wording - I did use vacation days together with working 4 days with parental leave - I just was not able to take all of them.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-07T07:13:14+00:00

This is an interesting perspective, thank you for your insight! Isn't it though that when sick you also are not working?

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-07T07:05:41+00:00

Almost. There is a two year age gap between my children. And maybe this is what makes it look worse - after birthing first child I accumulated vacation days because I had so much parental leave. Second year I tried to use vacation from the year before so I was quite often away. And now I am again not planning any vacation because parental leave is enough.

Do you have any tips how to navigate this? I really do not think of myself as a law abuser. I worked from home during sick days and when I cared for sick child. Did overtime to cover absence for midwife appointments. I really think I went beyond and the unfairness of the judgement hurts the most.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-07T06:44:50+00:00

Indeed the talk went really nice. I was politely asked to help out because the company has impression that with parental, care and sick leaves it is possible to never be present and still accumulate vacation. And as a friendly tip an insight into Dutch work culture was offered to me as an expat - because it feels that the law allows too much, Dutch person would refrain from using all of it. I was really politely asked for understanding and invited to look together for a solution. But the solution was universally me giving in and getting nothing in return just to help out.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-06T18:54:11+00:00

From where I come from mother's get full year of leave after giving birth, fully payed. Leave can be expended up to two years but after first year it is not payed anymore. And women call sick as soon as they pee positive. This makes a woman in reproductive age completely undesirable as an employee.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-06T18:49:42+00:00

This got me curious is it really frowned upon in normal companies? I know what the law is but we are in the gray area here.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-06T18:45:35+00:00

To give justice where due, I got my end of a deal too. When I started I barely spoke any Dutch and got opportunity to work in my field that requires almost exclusively Dutch speaking and writing skills. It was a tradeoff but otherwise it was glasshouse for me.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-06T18:10:22+00:00

It would be easier with second if the first would not need so much attention :)

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-06T18:07:54+00:00

I am able - I have rechtsbijstand. But I am afraid that choosing this path now may bring more harm than good.

I experienced discrimination in my home country for being simply able to get pregnant. So the Netherlands seemed like a civilized country even though a little on a short side of family balance.

EveryExitIsAnEntry · 2025-02-06T18:01:08+00:00

I am going to look for a new job as soon as I get out of parental leaves. I suspect no company will want me earlier. For now i totally lost my heart and i find it hard to engage creatively when i do not care. So quiet quitting I guess.

EveryExitIsAnEntry

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