FAQs on function-based contracts

In the 2007-2010 Collective Labour Agreement it was agreed to experiment with function-based contracts. These experiments have been continued under the current Collective Labour Agreement (see Article 4.4a of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). Function-based contracts can greatly benefit employees. An important condition for entering into a function-based contract is the willingness of both parties. If you have any questions that are not addressed by the FAQs, contact your personnel adviser.

 

Experiment with function-based contracts

Why are universities embarking on this experiment?
The intention behind including function-based contracts in the Collective Labour Agreement is to devote specific attention to the everyday practice of academics and higher-level support and management staff. Being held accountable for results is especially suited to the duties of academics and higher-level support and management staff, and performance-based management is at the heart of function-based contracts. By conducting this experiment, we hope to gain enough experience to lay the foundations for the permanent incorporation of function-based contracts in the Collective Labour Agreement. Given that this is a new instrument, it is certainly possible that you may run into some problems in practice: this is inherent to the nature of any experiment. It is essential to provide feedback as this will give the VSNU useful information for determining the best form in which function-based contracts can be embedded in the Collective Labour Agreement.