Bus driver who was headbutted and hit by colleague was fairly dismissed, says judge

Beaten but still fired 🧑‍⚖️

A bus driver who was fired after being headbutted and hit by a colleague has been found to be fairly dismissed in court.

The fight, which came after an argument about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was caught on cameras in the transportation company’s break room.

The verbal confrontation lasted several minutes before the physical altercation broke out between the two men.  

The man reportedly fought back after being headbutted and punched, but the judge ruled that “violence between colleagues is unacceptable” and upheld the decision.

Lost on all counts

The man’s employer, Arriva, a public transport company in the Netherlands, wanted to get rid of him. They argued that aggression creates a bad working environment, especially in public transport. 

READ MORE | 8 strangest reasons people got fired in the Netherlands last year

The driver attempted to keep his job, but the sub-district court upheld the decision. 

The driver, who was employed at Arriva since April 2023, also demanded €12,000 in severance pay, but only received €309.16 in allowances that were still owed to him. 

The two parties were also ordered to pay each other’s legal costs. The employee was ordered to pay €808, whilst Arriva had to pay €678.  

Want to keep up to date with the latest news? Subscribe to DutchReview’s weekly roundup.

Feature Image:Depositphotos
Christopher Conway
Christopher Conway
Chris hails from the beautiful (and occasionally rainy) Donegal, Ireland. With a degree in History and English under his belt, he’s now diving into an MA in Journalism. Having grown up in Ireland, he’s no stranger to a bit of rain, so the Dutch weather feels just like home to him. In fact, when it comes to Dutch rain, it’s like Ireland but with more bikes and fewer sheep!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related posts

Latest posts

Minimum wage in the Netherlands in 2025: The ultimate guide

Knowing what the minimum wage is in the Netherlands and how it works is important for you to know when you start working in the Netherlands.

What are your rights as an international working in the Netherlands? We asked the experts

When moving to a new country, there are a lot of things you may not think about at first — even though they will...

BREAKING: Car and man on fire in middle of Dam Square

Another shocking event has taken place in Dam Square as a car, with its driver inside, caught fire. The police suspect intent. The driver...

It's happening