Partner & Attorney at law
Employment & Employee Participation
Renate Vink-Dijkstra is a highly motivated and enthusiastic attorney with a great deal of interest in employment and employment participation. She considers it a privilege to work with directors, legal counsels, HR, works councils and other employment participation bodies, and to be able to contribute to effective employment participation within corporations, the government, healthcare and education.
‘Employment participation is about employees having a say and exercising influence, and about working together to achieve a result that is good for both the company and the employees. I examine issues from a legal, strategic and practical point of view so that the best possible solutions can be found. And if necessary, I have the legal expertise to help matters along.’
Renate completed her law studies at Leiden University and graduated with a Master’s degree in Private Law in 2008. Since then, Renate has gone on to specialise in employment law, specifically in employment participation, and successfully completed the specialist course in Employment, Enterprise and Employment Participation at the University of Amsterdam in 2015.
Renate has practised as an attorney in employment law and employment participation since 2009. She started her career at our firm and, after an interlude at a large international firm, returned to become one of the firm’s partners in 2022. Renate is also currently an external PhD student at Leiden University, where she is researching what could be the potential ‘next level’ of employment participation in the Netherlands, taking into account current developments within companies and on the labour market.
Renate’s enthusiasm for employment and employment participation is reflected in her daily practice, in which she assists her clients in the areas of collective employment law and employment participation. Her work ranges from negotiations on collective and individual terms and conditions of employment, application of collective labour agreements and guidance in reorganisations, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, to the design of an appropriate employment participation structure, guidance in consultation and consent processes and litigation. Renate also enjoys sharing her knowledge through publications and giving training courses or workshops. She is regularly invited to speak at conferences.
Guidance for a demerger in the healthcare sector
We assisted a works council that was engaged in a complex advisory process for a demerger, and the integration and evaluation of this.
Advising on a large-scale reorganisation within the government
Undertaking an advisory process with the works council on a major organisation-wide reorganisation, including the implementation.
Establishing the employment participation structure for an IT group
Together with the management and employment participation bodies, we advised on a new employment participation structure that would align with the restructured group.
Establishing collective terms and conditions of employment
At the request of the works council, we negotiated with the board on collective terms and conditions of employment throughout the whole group.
Litigating on the trade union position with respect to terms and conditions of employment
The entrepreneur asked us to litigate on their behalf on maintaining their own terms and conditions of employment, without mandatory consultation with the unions.
Employment, Employee Participation & Mediation
3 June 2025
On May 19, Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Van Hijum submitted the legislative proposal ‘More Security for Flexible Workers’ to the House of Representatives.
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Employment, Employee Participation & Mediation
13 May 2025
In the Netherlands, the topic of “grensoverschrijdend gedrag”—transgressive or inappropriate behaviour in the workplace—has evolved from a relatively underexposed HR issue to a legal and societal priority. As an employment lawyer advising Dutch and international employers, I have seen this shift unfold in both subtle and seismic ways. What was once handled quietly within organisations is now a subject of public debate, regulatory scrutiny, and legislative reform. In this blog, I explore the recent legal developments, practical implications, and cultural challenges surrounding transgressive behaviour at work in the Netherlands—and what employers should know to act responsibly and effectively.
Employment, Employee Participation & Mediation
30 April 2025
The work environment has changed significantly in recent years. Technological advancements, a new generation of employees, and the desire of workers to pay more attention to work-life balance are forcing employers to review their policies and employment conditions. It is important to respond to these changes, as modern employment conditions are increasingly becoming a determining factor for talent retention, attracting new employees, productivity, and overall employee engagement. What modern employment conditions can you think of? You can read more about this in this blog series.