Transitional Measure Regarding Outplacement Expires – New Regime

The Law of 26 December 2013 concerning the introduction of the unified status between blue collar and white collar workers regarding the notice periods, first day of unpaid sick leave and accompanying measures (Wet betreffende de invoering van een eenheidsstatuut tussen arbeiders en bedienden inzake de opzeggingstermijnen en de carenzdag en begeleidende maatregelen/Loi concernant l'introduction d'un statut unique entre ouvriers et employés en ce qui concerne les délais de préavis et le jour de carence ainsi que de mesures d'accompagnement) broadened the right to outplacement for dismissed employees (See, VBB on Business Law, Volume 2014, No. 1, p. 10, available at www.vbb.com).

The system of outplacement was extended to all employees who are entitled to a notice period or corresponding notice indemnity of at least 30 weeks (as of 9 years of seniority under the new rules) and the existing system of outplacement as from the age of 45 became the default system (only