{"id":5939,"date":"2025-07-15T13:17:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T10:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/refusing-an-employers-instructions-is-that-acceptable-for-a-good-employee\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T15:45:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T12:45:36","slug":"refusing-an-employers-instructions-is-that-acceptable-for-a-good-employee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arbeidsadvocaat.nl\/en\/refusing-an-employers-instructions-is-that-acceptable-for-a-good-employee\/","title":{"rendered":"Refusing an employer\u2019s instructions: Is that acceptable for a good employee?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Job Change Following a Takeover: Can You, as an Employee, Refuse Instructions?<\/strong> What was going on in this case?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

This ruling<\/a> centered on the question of whether an employee is obligated to accept a new position after his employer was acquired and his former position was eliminated. The employee in question worked for Mammoet Transport B.V. and managed a business unit. Following a takeover, he was offered a different role as an \u201cadvisor,\u201d which he refused. Mammoet subsequently stopped paying his wages. The employee sued for continued payment of his wages but lost the case. <\/p>\n\n

The case eventually made its way all the way to the Supreme Court, which made it clear how carefully an employer and an employee must handle situations of this kind.<\/p>\n\n

What does the law say about job changes?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

The crux of this case lies in Article 7:611 of the Civil Code. This article requires employers and employees to behave as a \u201cgood employer\u201d and a \u201cgood employee,\u201d respectively. But what exactly does that mean in practice? <\/p>\n\n

According to the Supreme Court, an employer may, in the event of changed circumstances (such as a takeover or reorganization), make a reasonable proposal to amend the employment contract. In principle, an employee may refuse such a proposal only if it cannot reasonably be expected of him or her. <\/p>\n\n

When is a proposal \u201creasonable\u201d?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Whether a proposal is reasonable depends on all the circumstances of the case. The Supreme Court states that you must consider: <\/p>\n\n