Have your settlement agreement checked for free
Received a settlement agreement (vaststellingsovereenkomst) from your employer in the Netherlands? Upload your agreement and receive a free, personal review by our lawyers within 1 hour on business days. No hidden costs, no obligations.
Upload your agreement for free review
What do we check?
- Amount of dismissal compensation
- Severance pay correctly calculated
- Notice period and end date
- Unemployment benefit rights secured
- Non-compete and non-solicitation clause
- Final discharge and release from duties
- Certificate of employment and references
- 14-day cooling-off period
Why OntslagLegal?
- 100% free - no hidden costs
- Within 1 hour on business days
- Experienced lawyers specialised in employment law
- Confidential - your data is safe
- No obligations - you are not bound to anything
Your advantages at a glance
- Personal advice - no automated check
- Plain language - no legal jargon
- Independent - we work exclusively for employees
- Negotiation tips - we advise how to achieve more
- Benefits-proof - we check your unemployment benefit rights
What exactly do we check in your settlement agreement?
When you have your settlement agreement checked by OntslagLegal, our lawyers perform a thorough analysis of all components. Below you can read per component what we assess and why it matters to you as an employee.
Dismissal Compensation
We assess whether the offered compensation is fair and market-appropriate. In many cases, employers offer less than what you are entitled to. We calculate what a reasonable compensation is based on your years of service, salary and the circumstances of the dismissal. Often there is room to negotiate a higher amount.
Severance Pay
The severance pay (transitievergoeding) is a statutory right upon dismissal. We check whether the amount is correctly calculated based on your gross monthly salary, fixed emoluments and years of service. Errors in the calculation occur regularly, for example because holiday allowance, a thirteenth month or structural overtime is not included.
Notice Period and End Date
The end date of your employment must account for the applicable notice period. This is directly relevant to your unemployment benefits: if the notice period is not correctly processed (the so-called fictitious notice period), the UWV may delay the start of your benefits. We check whether the end date is set in your interest.
Unemployment Benefit Rights
One of the most important parts of our check is whether your right to unemployment benefits is preserved. The settlement agreement must meet specific conditions: the initiative must lie with the employer, there must be no urgent reason, and the notice period must be correctly processed. We thoroughly check each of these conditions.
Non-Compete Clause
Many employment contracts contain a non-compete or non-solicitation clause. Upon dismissal via a settlement agreement, it is crucial that this clause is lifted or limited. Otherwise you may be restricted in your career after dismissal. We advise you on the possibilities.
Cooling-Off Period and Final Discharge
The statutory 14-day cooling-off period must be correctly stated in the agreement. If this mention is missing, the period is extended to 21 days. Additionally, we check the final discharge clause: this governs that both parties can no longer make claims after signing. We ensure this does not disadvantage you.
How does our free settlement agreement check work?
Having your settlement agreement checked is simple and free of charge. In four steps you will know exactly where you stand.
Upload your settlement agreement
Upload your agreement via the secure form at the top of this page. You can upload a PDF, Word document or a photo of the document. Your data is treated strictly confidentially and never shared with third parties.
Our lawyers review your agreement
An experienced lawyer, specialised in employment law, thoroughly reviews your settlement agreement. Every component is checked: from the amount of compensation and the correctness of the severance pay to the cooling-off period, the non-compete clause and your unemployment benefit rights.
You receive personal advice
On business days you receive clear and personal advice within 1 hour. We tell you in plain language what is well arranged, what could be improved, and whether there is room to negotiate better terms. No legal jargon, but concrete recommendations.
Optional: support with negotiation
If you wish, our lawyers can assist you in negotiating with your employer. Many employers are willing to adjust the terms when you present legally substantiated arguments. The costs for this can often be recovered from your employer, so you pay nothing yourself.
Frequently asked questions about your settlement agreement
Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about having a settlement agreement checked. If your question is not listed, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Is checking my settlement agreement really free?
Yes, having your settlement agreement checked by OntslagLegal is completely free and without obligation. You receive a personal review by an experienced lawyer, at no cost whatsoever. There are no hidden costs and you are not bound to anything. We believe every employee has the right to legal advice upon dismissal, regardless of their financial situation.
How quickly will I receive a response?
On business days you receive a response from our lawyers within 1 hour. If you submitted your agreement before 17:00, you can expect a review that same day. Do you have an urgent case, for example because the signing deadline is approaching? Mention this when submitting and we will do our best to respond with priority.
What is the cooling-off period for a settlement agreement?
After signing a settlement agreement, you have a statutory cooling-off period of 14 days. Within this period you can dissolve the agreement without giving reasons, by informing your employer in writing (by letter or email). Note: if the cooling-off period is not explicitly mentioned in the agreement, it is automatically extended to 21 days. This right is legally established and cannot be excluded by your employer.
Can I negotiate my settlement agreement?
Yes, in virtually all cases there is room to negotiate the terms of your settlement agreement. The first proposal from your employer is rarely the best offer. Components that are often successfully negotiated include: the amount of compensation, lifting the non-compete clause, a longer release from duties with continued pay, the certificate of employment and the contribution to legal costs. After our free review, we advise you specifically on the negotiation possibilities.
How is severance pay calculated?
The severance pay amounts to one-third of a monthly salary per year of service. The monthly salary includes not only your gross base salary, but also fixed pay components such as holiday allowance, a thirteenth month, structural overtime pay and a fixed shift allowance. Many employers calculate with too low an amount by not including these components. Our lawyers calculate the correct severance pay based on all relevant pay components.
Will I lose my right to unemployment benefits if I sign?
Not automatically, but the agreement must meet certain conditions to preserve your unemployment benefit rights. The initiative for termination must lie with your employer (not with you), there must be no urgent reason for dismissal (such as theft or refusal to work), and the notice period must be correctly processed. If these conditions are met, you retain your right to unemployment benefits in principle. Our review explicitly focuses on these points, so you can sign with peace of mind.
What if I have already signed?
Have you already signed your settlement agreement? Then you still have the statutory cooling-off period of 14 days (or 21 days if the cooling-off period is not included in the agreement). Within this period you can dissolve the agreement without giving reasons. Submit your agreement for review so we can assess whether there is reason to use the cooling-off period.
Is my data treated confidentially?
Absolutely. Your settlement agreement and personal data are treated strictly confidentially, in accordance with our privacy policy and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Your documents are used exclusively for the review and are not shared with third parties. After completion, your data is securely stored and deleted upon your request.
Why is our settlement agreement check free?
We regularly get asked why we offer the review of your settlement agreement free of charge. The answer is simple: we believe every employee should have access to legal advice upon dismissal. Many employees sign a settlement agreement without knowing they are entitled to higher compensation, or worse, without realising their unemployment benefit rights are at risk.
The free review enables you to make an informed decision. If after the review you need further legal assistance, for example in negotiating with your employer, we can help you with that. The costs for legal assistance upon dismissal can in many cases be fully or partially recovered from your employer. Many employers include a contribution for legal costs in the settlement agreement.
OntslagLegal works exclusively for employees, never for employers. You can therefore trust that our advice is entirely in your interest. We have no commercial ties with employers or employment agencies and our lawyers assess your situation independently and objectively.