On-call work: check calls, cancellations and hours

On-call work: check calls, cancellations and hours. General information.

On-call workers can have different contracts, such as zero-hours, minimum–maximum hours or preliminary agreements. Read the hours and pay arrangements. Your rights for a shift depend on more than the label on-call worker.

The employer must generally call you in writing or electronically at least four calendar days ahead. If the call is later, you are not obliged to attend. A collective agreement can reduce the period to at least one day.

If the employer cancels or changes working times within the applicable call-up period, you may retain wages for the originally scheduled hours. Keep the original roster and every change, with dates and times.

If you remain employed as an on-call worker after a year, the employer must offer fixed hours. The average hours over the preceding twelve months matter. The offer should follow within one month after that year.

Possible entitlement for a cancelled shift differs from your structural working hours. Prepare both a shift list and monthly records. Check collective-agreement terms and any special rules before drawing conclusions.

Bring your contract, calls, hours worked and payslips for assessment. The on-call guide helps distinguish a payment question from the question of fixed hours matching your working pattern.

Read the full explanation and sources on Employment Law in the Netherlands. Have someone assess which rules apply to your situation.