7 February 2017 – Breakfast seminar “Update on Unified Status”

On Tuesday, 7 February 2017, our Employment Law practice group organised a Dutch-language breakfast seminar offering an "Update on Unified Status". In the meantime, the Unified Status Act has been around for three years and it signifies a first step in abolishing the discrimination between blue-collar and white-collar workers, at least with regard to the right of dismissal. In the framework of this seminar, Atty Sara Cockx gave a practical update of the dismissal regulations and the main points to which one must pay attention. The following were some of the topics addressed there:

• Duration of the notice period – how to calculate, and what seniority do you have to take into consideration?
• Longer notice periods in the construction sector as of 1 January 2018
• Calculation of the gross annual remuneration – what benefits do you have to include, and what about variable salary?
• Outplacement - who is entitled to it, and when can you withhold 4 weeks of salary?
• Dismissal justification and manifestly unreasonable dismissal – what are the initial trends in the case-law?
• Dismissal and illness - what can you do if an employee becomes ill during the advance notice period?
• New procedure for chronically-ill employees via a re-integration process
• Tips & tricks when concluding a settlement agreement

This seminar was held in Kasteel Den Brandt.

For more information on this topic, you can consult Sara Cockx (unit head).