Education in Home Care: Rights and Obligations

Questioner

We work as nurses at a home care organization and have recently been required to follow mandatory refresher courses. This concerns e-learning and practical lessons. The employer determines which courses and pays for the courses. In its study facilities scheme, the organization states that 'travel time to training activities and time required for home study and e-learning do not fall under study leave'. The employer states that this mandatory training must be done in one's own time. In the collective labour agreement for VVT, education falls under the decentralised regulations. However, the collective labour agreement states that 'studies that are followed on behalf of the employer are considered working hours'. Can and may an employer deviate from this because it concerns a decentralised arrangement?

Lawyer

Based on the collective labor agreement for VVT, you cannot hold the employer to compensation. Compensation is therefore a favor, not a right. This makes your question about the training irrelevant. If you wish, you can contact us without any obligation.