Risk areas are places where there are extra safety or health risks, for example due to unsafe conditions or the spread of disease. For you as an employee, this may raise questions about what your employer may and may not determine if you travel to or have been to such an area in your free time. Here we clearly explain your rights, what you need to report, and what you can take into account with your work.
What are risk areas
The Dutch government publishes Travel advice for countries and regions. In it, it states How safe it is to travel there:
- Green You can travel there
- Yellow There are risks
- Orange many risks, only essential travel
- Red Travel is discouraged or prohibited, do not travel to this area
Risk areas can therefore involve natural disasters, insecurity, laws and customs, or other circumstances that impact your situation during your stay and upon your return.
No, your employer cannot dictate where you go on holiday.
Your employer cannot forbid you from travelling to a risk area during your free time. Employees have the freedom to decide how to spend their holiday days. However, your employer can ask you to be careful and advise you not to go to risk areas. But they cannot issue a ban, even if the travel advice is negative.
The most important thing for your employer is that they know when you are away and when you will return, so that your work schedule and staffing remain well-managed.
What must you report
You don't always have to say which country you are going to, but for high-risk areas it is wise to be honest. If you have been in an area where, for example, a disease is different from in the Netherlands, this can have consequences for your colleagues and workplace safety.
In such cases, your employer may ask you not to return to work immediately or to temporarily stay away from the workplace.
Practical tip
Clear communication helps prevent problems. Always report when you are travelling and your return date. Discuss with your manager what the procedures are for potential risks.
You can also read your agreements on holiday days and leave in the article Don't let your holiday days be taken away from De Unie on how to organise your holidays and time off properly.
