The Dutch Broadcasting Court in The Hague has ruled that Arnold Karskens, the former editor-in-chief of Ongehoord Nederland! (ON!), will not be reinstated to his position but will receive a compensation payment of €100,000.
The court determined that while ON! had grounds to terminate Karskens’ employment, the dismissal process lacked sufficient procedural care. Specifically, the investigations conducted by the broadcaster were deemed insufficiently thorough, and the organization acted too hastily in concluding that termination was warranted, despite no prior complaints against Karskens.
Karskens, who is 71 years old, was dismissed in 2024 following employee complaints alleging inappropriate conduct. ON! had relied on a staff letter and two internal investigations to justify the termination. However, the appellate court found these investigations flawed and therefore unsuitable as a solid basis for dismissal.
The ruling upholds an earlier decision by a lower court, which had also found that ON! failed to observe the correct notice period and had initially ordered the broadcaster to pay Karskens €36,000 in damages. Karskens appealed that ruling, arguing his termination was unjust, which led to the higher court’s final determination.
Although the court affirmed that Karskens’ dismissal remains valid, it concluded that the manner in which it was carried out warranted financial compensation. The €100,000 award reflects the court’s assessment of the procedural shortcomings in the termination process.
The case underscores the importance of adhering to due process in employment decisions, even when allegations of misconduct are present. For ON!, the ruling represents both a legal and financial setback, as it must now pay significant compensation despite prevailing on the core issue of termination justification.
