Reinier advises national and international companies
reinier.russell@russell.nl +31 20 301 55 55How do you create a transparent, open and professional corporate culture where everyone knows which actions would be considered appropriate and which would (not) be considered ethically acceptable?
Increasingly often, company managers are dismissed because of violations of the code of conduct, such as involvement in scandal, (sexual) harassment, fraud or leaks of sensitive information. This is also due to the increasing public interest in this kind of violations and the zero tolerance policy nowadays applied by many companies.
Of course, you want all your employees to act with integrity, but you should definitely be able to rely on the major players of your company. A director who is subject to an integrity investigation while he should set an example for your employees can cause a difficult situation.
How do you, as an entrepreneur, make sure that everyone who acts on behalf of your company, both inside and outside the company, acts in a manner you desire?
Our lawyers recommend to have drawn up an integrity policy containing the core values and rules of conduct of the company.
The integrity policy can either be a separate document or it can be included as part of the employee handbook / code of conduct which also contains a social media policy.
Russell Advocaten helps enterprises and their directors carrying out an investigation (fact finding/integrity screening) and conducting proceedings regarding integrity issues within companies. In addition, our lawyers provide advice on what you can do to create the desired work environment, for example by drafting, implementing and maintaining a sound integrity policy. Please contact:
Taking steps in the event of irregularities or a #MeToo-related issue in your company? Make sure all facts are disclosed by means of a thorough investigation of the facts!
What can you do to prevent sexual harassment on the workfloor? And what do you, as an employer, have to do if it does occur unexpectedly?
Statutory directors enjoy less protection against dismissal, but there must still be reasonable grounds for the dismissal. Otherwise, the employer must pay fair compensation. This can be substantial, as a recent ruling has shown. Why was the employer required to pay this compensation?
The European AI Act requires employers to ensure that employees have sufficient knowledge of AI systems. This can be achieved through training, but also through an AI policy tailored to the company. What should you include in such a policy? What role does the works council play in the implementation of the AI policy?
Reinier W.L. Russell, LL.M. has published an article on The benefits of a works council for entrepreneurs in the “Off the record” section of Primerus Weekly on March 3, 2026. Below you will find the text of this article.
Employees who are underperforming may be dismissed. However, they must first be given the opportunity to improve their performance through a performance improvement plan (PIP). What requirements must such a plan meet?
