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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
7 April 2025
In May 2025, we celebrate a special milestone: it will be 75 years since the Works Councils Act (WOR) was introduced. On 14 May 2025, a festive congress will be held; a day filled with celebratory activities, leading speakers, and interactive workshops on current topics.
Employment, Employee Participation & Mediation
27 March 2025
The work environment has changed significantly in recent years. Technological advancements, a new generation of employees, and the desire for a better work-life balance have forced employers to rethink their policies and employment conditions. It is important to respond to these changes, as modern employment conditions are increasingly a determining factor for talent retention, attracting new employees, productivity, and overall employee engagement. What modern employment conditions can you think of? You will read more about this in this blog series.
Employment, Employee Participation & Mediation
21 March 2025
Many works council struggle with vacancies. Often, too few employees run for election, or works council members leave their positions prematurely for various reasons. Good facilities can help to enthuse employees about works council membership and keep them engaged. In this blog, we list some important facilities for inspiration.