Dutch court awards employee 60,000 euros after marathon dismissal

The Hague Court of Appeal has ruled that the dismissal of an employee by the Dutch travel agency Prijsvrij was unjustified, awarding the individual over 60,000 euros in severance pay.

The employee, who had been with the company for only six months, was placed on sick leave in December 2024 due to severe ocular issues. Despite being unable to perform certain tasks like driving or screen work, the employee informed an occupational physician of his intention to continue running four times a week. After the company hired private detectives and observed him completing the Rotterdam Marathon in under three and a half hours, Prijsvrij terminated his contract for gross misconduct.

Medical examinations later confirmed the employee suffered from myasthenia, a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease. The court found the dismissal abusive, highlighting the strong protections for sick employees under Dutch labor law.