Tue, 19 May 2026 04:04:58 +0200 Tue, 19 May 2026 04:04:58 +0200 ContentFeeder 2.0
Global mobility has become increasingly common in today's globalized economy. Pursuing an international career can be a rewarding experience, but it can also bring significant challenges, particularly for accompanying spouses. One of the most significant challenges is the impact it can have on their spouse's career.

Many spouses have established careers, professional networks, and support systems, which they leave behind when moving to a new country. This can be particularly challenging for those who have invested years of time and effort into building their careers and establishing themselves in their chosen field. Moreover, giving up a career can have significant...]]> Fri, 05 May 2023 15:43:53 +0200
"Beyond the Employee: Why Including Spouse Career Support in Relocation Discussions is Crucial for Success"

Relocating for a job can be a daunting task, not just for the employee but also for their spouse/partner and family. However, too often, companies only communicate with the employee about the relocation, leaving the family to endure the brunt of the move. This approach can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and reduced productivity, ultimately affecting the employee's job performance.
Involving the spouse/partner and family in employee relocation discussions is crucial for a successful move. It provides an open, yet confidential forum for the family to...]]> Fri, 05 May 2023 14:43:15 +0200
Empowering Knowledge Workers: Why Outplacement is Vital for Career Transitions

In today's rapidly evolving job market, career transitions have become a common occurrence for many knowledge workers. Whether it's due to changes in the industry, restructuring within a company, or personal growth aspirations, navigating a career transition can be both exciting and challenging. To ensure a smooth and successful transition, outplacement services have emerged as a vital resource for empowering knowledge workers.

But what exactly is outplacement? And why is it so crucial for knowledge workers? Let's delve deeper into this topic and explore the benefits of outplacement in empowering knowledge...]]> Thu, 13 Apr 2023 09:59:13 +0200
Why the tightness is not caused by the ageing of the population
The ageing population is often blamed for the current shortage. But is that really true, wonders Geert-Jan Waasdorp. Ageing is part of the explanation, but certainly not the cause. But what is? Why the shortage is not due to an ageing population
When looking for an explanation for the current personnel shortages, people often mention the ageing population. This argument comes up again and again. And I don't know how often you see a security guard or hospitality worker aged 50-plus (or even older), but ageing is certainly not an issue...]]> Tue, 31 May 2022 08:50:36 +0200
Apply for paid parental leave at UWV

As of August 2, 2022, employees will have the option of receiving benefits during 9 of the 26 weeks of parental leave. For this, the employer must submit an application to the UWV, after which the agency pays the benefit to the employer.

Legally, parental leave is currently unpaid. The Paid Parental Leave Act (WBO) (article) ensures that as of August 2, 2022, an employee can take nine weeks of parental leave for each child with benefit from UWV, provided that this leave falls within the child's first year of life. The same system...]]> Tue, 17 May 2022 12:17:02 +0200 We are going German! Join our German Candidate Week February 21st - 25th
(Scroll down for English text)

From DACH to DUTCH. Erfahre wie du bequem von deinem eigenen Wohnzimmer aus in den niederländischen Arbeitsmarkt einsteigen kannst. In der Woche vom 21. Februar veranstalten wir Online-Informationsveranstaltungen, die von Deutschsprachigen für Deutschsprachige entwickelt wurden. Freue dich auf einen spannenden Austausch mit unseren Experten! Sie werden u.a. über folgende Themen sprechen:

• Niederländisches Arbeitsrecht

• Einen Job in den Niederlanden finden

• Kulturelle Unterschiede zwischen Deutschland und den Niederlanden

Die Veranstaltung finden auf Deutsch statt und bieten dir die Möglichkeit auch andere...]]> Tue, 15 Feb 2022 15:56:52 +0100 Paid parental leave in the event of birth before 2 August 2022
On 2 August 2022, the Paid Parental Leave Act will enter into force. From then on, employees can take parental leave with a benefit from uwv. This can also be an option for employees whose child was born before 2 August 2022. 

An employee is entitled to parental leave of 26 times the working hours per week per child. From 2 August 2022, a benefit from the UWV can be received for a maximum of nine of the 26 weeks of parental leave. This benefit must amount to...]]> Tue, 08 Feb 2022 12:27:26 +0100
Retaining young talent

Flexible and hybrid working; no longer just a thing for young talent, but also for existing talent in organisations. It is now more and more in demand by all generations in the workplace, but for the younger generation the desire for flexible working is the strongest.

As an employer, you have to make policy on how to deal with the different generational wishes within your company, precisely in order to attract and retain talent. Today's young people have grown up in the digital age and, for example, working online is much more normal for this generation. I can see...]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2022 10:30:15 +0100
Within this tight labor market, it is important that a potential candidate immediately becomes enthusiastic about your vacancy. If your vacancy text does not emphasize what you are looking for, you can quickly lose candidates. It has also become even more important in this day and age to write inclusively. After all, you want to try to grab the largest possible target group. In this blog, we give you 5 tips & tricks for writing diverse, equal, and inclusive vacancy texts.

Jargon
This may be an open door, but this part is often underestimated. If you have a lot of knowledge of...]]> Mon, 29 Nov 2021 15:25:44 +0100 Are you facing redundancy as an Expat or International in the Netherlands?
It’s not an easy situation if you suspect you’re about to be made redundant, or if you already have been. And so ‘now what?’ is the foremost thought running through your mind. Change is coming for you and maybe for your family, and transitions aren’t easy or straightforward. The challenge is always insufficient planning to prepare you mentally and tactically with the right blend of skills and knowledge.

That’s why outplacement services are all about creating a real, actionable plan for you that helps you secure the next move in...]]> Mon, 11 Oct 2021 16:43:42 +0200
If your (former) employee violates or threatens to violate the non-competition clause, you’ll want to take action as soon as possible to prevent the employee from running off with your knowledge and/or your customers. Two recent court rulings make it clear that you must do this quickly, because otherwise you will lose the right to invoke the non-competition clause at all.

If you wait too long, judges will rule that you as an employer apparently do not attach great importance to the non-competition clause and that the employee could therefore trust that the non-competition clause does not impede their work...]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2021 11:14:55 +0200

Media reports about Volksbank speak of a sickened atmosphere at the top of this "state bank. The CFO literally got sick of it on August 12, 2020. As of September 5, 2020, his resignation as a statutory director followed. Since then, the dismissal has been the subject of litigation. On June 15, the Court of Appeal ruled that the prohibition on giving notice due to illness applies and that the CFO is therefore entitled to continued payment of his salary of €23,000 gross per month. How does this actually work with the dismissal of a sick statutory director?

Step 1: is...]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2021 10:24:54 +0200

5 tips for being less hectic

Does your work sometimes resemble a madhouse? Your company needs to grow, processes need to improve and we have high expectations of each other. But in the meantime working through all kinds of physical and virtual distractions is quite difficult. We get stressed, the work doesn't get done in the expected time and before you know it you open your laptop in the evening or at the weekend. Unintentionally, your stress seeps through to colleagues, the client, your family and friends....

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson describe in the book "It doesn't have to be...]]> Wed, 23 Jun 2021 09:55:30 +0200

Frequently Asked Questions about Outplacement

Have you been told that you may be laid off or have you been laid off in the meantime? Then outplacement may be something for you. The purpose of outplacement is to help employees who have been dismissed, or who are threatened with dismissal, to find a new job.

Why outplacement?
Due to the rapidly changing economy, companies are forced to adapt quickly. An employee is no longer in the right place faster than before. Outplacement ensures that this employee is guided to another job which is a good solution for both parties.

How does outplacement work?
In outplacement a...]]> Thu, 17 Jun 2021 09:48:58 +0200

What do stress and burnout mean? What is stress according to you?

Janet Mulder starts the master class with this question to the participants. All kinds of answers pass in review, including: wanting more than you can handle, an imbalance in your energy, too much tension, loss of control, a shortening of the fuse but also a form of alertness and in itself a healthy stimulus.

With these last additions the participants hit the nail on the head. We tend to interpret stress negatively, but it also has all kinds of positive functions. For example, it provides focus and structure and it...]]> Thu, 17 Jun 2021 08:56:53 +0200

What is the drama triangle?
The drama triangle, designed by Stephen Karpman, is a visual representation of communication patterns between people. This triangle is characterized by the fact that you are, as it were, 'caught' in it and then always have the choice of three possibilities, namely: assuming the role of the Rescuer, the Accuser or the Victim.

These three social roles complement each other and produce fixed patterns in communication. The remarkable thing about these three roles is that the persons concerned are not aware of the way in which they keep themselves and the other person, as it...]]> Thu, 17 Jun 2021 08:33:07 +0200

As a manager, are you now managing your home-based team remotely? Then the question has probably arisen in your mind as to how you fulfill your role as manager in this context and best keep in touch with your employees. How do you increase motivation, for example? How do you promote cooperation? And how do you deal with difficult situations?

Create safety and trust
You can start monitoring your employees, asking them about their work and having them dial in at mandatory times. But that doesn't exactly increase trust and motivation. Moreover, some people are in difficult circumstances, for example with young...]]> Wed, 16 Jun 2021 13:57:13 +0200
As a manager you fulfill three different roles: that of leader, manager, and coach.
A leader has a vision. A manager converts that vision into practical goals. And a coach helps employees develop to their full potential. It makes sense to regularly think about which role you want to use to achieve your goal. Below you can read what the roles entail and which reflexes and pitfalls you can avoid.

The role of the leader
As a leader you inspire people with your story. You carry out the mission, vision and strategy. You know the values of your organisation and put them into...]]> Tue, 15 Jun 2021 15:30:42 +0200
Working from home, the changing nature of interviews, and hiring. Interviews taking over from group interview exercises and challenges. it will be harder possibly to hire the people who best ‘fit’ if you cannot see them in person, and pick up on nonverbal communication over video calls.

The alarm goes off. It is time to get up and make your journey to work. You take the walk to work, where you stop for coffee, open up your computer and there you are, ready for your 9 am meeting with the team! This routine will of course now be familiar to millions......]]> Mon, 14 Jun 2021 15:01:04 +0200 Proposal paid parental leave through House of Representatives

A majority of the Lower House has endorsed the proposal for the Paid Parental Leave Act. Among other things, the bill provides that employees can receive nine weeks of parental leave benefits starting in the summer of 2022.

The proposal for the Paid Parental Leave Act is the elaboration of a European directive for a better work-life balance for parents. The Netherlands must incorporate this directive into national law by August 2, 2022 at the latest. That date seems feasible, now that the House of Representatives has agreed. However, an agreement from the...]]> Wed, 28 Apr 2021 09:57:16 +0200
As of July 1, 2021, statutory vacation days accrued by employees in 2020 will, in principle, expire. The employer is required to alert employees to that expiration date and give them the opportunity to still use the vacation days.

If the employer does not inform the employee in time or is unclear about the expiry period (infographic), the employee retains his right to the unused statutory vacation days after the expiry period. In that case, these statutory vacation days will only become time-barred five years after the year in which they were accrued, just like the statutory vacation days. This...]]> Tue, 20 Apr 2021 15:12:25 +0200
Imposter syndrome: how can employees and employers deal with it

Have you ever doubt your skills or you constantly feel you are not good enough at work? Well, if the answer is yes, you might have imposter syndrome. This is the name given to a behavior pattern where people doubt their success and accomplishments despite strong evidence to the contrary. They have an internalised fear of being exposed as a fraud.

Research reveals that imposter syndrome is related to anxiety, depression and low self-worth, and it has a negative impact on wellbeing through stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation, inhibiting...]]> Tue, 13 Apr 2021 08:18:26 +0200
Female representation and gender inequality at work

Gender inequalities persist in social and economic life around the world. OCDE (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) says that young women have more years of schooling than young men, on average. However, women are still less likely to engage in paid work. Gaps widen with age, as motherhood typically has adverse effects on women’s pay and career advancement. Women are also less likely to be entrepreneurs and are under-represented in private and public leadership.
According to the European Comission’s website, women remain underrepresented in the labour market. 67% of women are currently in...]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2021 16:09:03 +0200
Outplacement or redundancy services: why it is so important?

We live in a time when the modern job market is more complex, competitive and accelerated. It is an environment that is constantly evolving and constitutes a new and frequent job market. As a result, employees now need outplacement support that is more responsive, timely and personalized, provided by experts who can provide flexible and results-focused support.

Outplacement or redundancy services are a great way to support employees who are facing a career transition, especially in these extraordinary times when many people left without a job due to the pandemic.

Outplacement...]]> Wed, 24 Mar 2021 10:59:52 +0100
Coronavirus and the effect on the labor market in the Netherlands

The whole world has been facing the COVID-19 pandemic for one year. To contain the virus, the ideal is to avoid people from leaving their homes, and this implies in close stores, shops, restaurants, bars, and, when possible, making them work from home. However, the closure of all these places reflects both on the economy and unemployment and possible hiring, and such as many other countries, the Netherlands also faces this impact of the coronavirus on the labor market.

Figures released by the Centraal Bureau van Statistiek (CBS) revealed...]]> Mon, 22 Mar 2021 09:55:23 +0100

Getting ready for your Future Proof Job

From Career Transition
Feel supported during the transition and focus positively on your next career step.

To Your Future Job
Together we find and secure the right opportunity, quickly and effectively.

By Having Expert Support
Get direction in an increasingly complex and fast-paced job market. Our outplacement services are built around your needs with your own Expert Career Coach.

Surviving the storm and riding the perfect wave

1.PERSONAL INTAKE
We have the experience and flexibility to build a tailored outplacement solution that works for you. Personalised, flexible, results focussed and fit for the modern...]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2020 15:25:14 +0200

If an employer receives an unsolicited CV of a suitable candidate from a recruitment agency, this does not automatically mean that the employer may not approach the candidate directly. This is evident from a recent ruling in which the court rejected the agency's claim for compensation.


The employer, a logistics service provider, had posted a vacancy on its website. A recruitment agency sent the employer an e-mail that it had a suitable candidate. The employer expressed interest. A week later, the agency emailed the candidate's resume to the employer and, shortly thereafter, the cooperation agreement with the terms and conditions....]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:30:05 +0100
Some workers who can work from home are not doing so despite the circulating coronavirus. The outgoing cabinet is therefore taking measures. In addition, a bill of initiative has been submitted to give employees more rights around working from home.

The urgent advice from the cabinet is to work at home, unless that is really not possible. This should prevent the spread of the coronavirus; the workplace is a major source of infection. Nevertheless, recent studies show that some employees work on location. A RIVM poll in January found that of those workers who say they can work from home,...]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:23:24 +0100
Working in 2021: what will that look like?

Because of the coronapandemic, our way of working looks completely different than it did a year ago. But to what extent are these changes permanent? If corona is on its way out, what will working in 2021 look like? Will we all go back to the office or will working from home be here to stay? And what will the workplace of the future look like? We outline 2021 in six trends and developments in working.

1. We will continue to work at home (in part)
Last summer, the KiM (Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy...]]> Fri, 22 Jan 2021 12:54:24 +0100
News from Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
Pilot web module Labour Relationship Assessment (WBA) launched

The pilot of the Web Module Labour Relationship Assessment (WBA) (Webmodule Beoordeling Arbeidsrelatie (WBA)  went online today. By completing the questionnaire, clients can find out whether they are allowed to hire a self-employed person for a job or whether an employment contract is required.

This pilot web module is anonymous and no rights can be derived from it at this stage. The Cabinet wants to evaluate the pilot later this year to find out whether the module is useful as a tool and to improve it where necessary.

Last...]]> Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:19:12 +0100

You are invited to join our Expert Talk:

"Practical Agile Methodologies to realize your 2021 business goals with your (remote) team"

Presented by Jo Gelok- Change & Program Manager and owner of RedValue & our own expert Marjan Stoit- Sales & Recruitment Manager at Undutchables.

2021 is closing in. Despite the unpredictability of these times due to COVID pandemic, you are probably busy with your plans for 2021. But since everyone is still working remotely and this seems to stay this way for a large part of the new year it might seem challenging how to get everyone in your...]]> Thu, 03 Dec 2020 14:26:36 +0100
Deeknemen niet meer mogelijk, trajecten zijn vergeven
GRATIS LOOPBAANONTWIKKELINGSADVIES MET OVERHEIDSSUBSIDIE

Gratis loopbaanontwikkelingsadvies met overheidssubsidie

Bent u op zoek naar een andere baan en weet u niet wat uw competenties zijn, waar uw interesse ligt en wat uw kansen zijn op de arbeidsmarkt?

Heeft u een Nederlands BSN-registratienummer? Dan is deze gratis Loopbaanontwikkelingssubsidie voor jou mogelijk.

Via de Nederlandse leersubsidie kun je vanaf 1 december 2020 een gratis coachingstraject volgen.
De subsidie wordt heropend voor 50.000 mensen.

Intake en arbeidsmarktscan
Het programma start met een telefonische intake en een arbeidsmarktscan. In de telefonische intake bespreken we uw situatie en wat uw vraag is.
U ontvangt een online vragenlijst...]]> Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:59:51 +0100 SURVEY : Expat partners are an untapped source of highly-skilled labour

A survey of people who moved to the Netherlands to be with their partners who either lived or were posted here shows seven in 10 gave up their career or business to relocate. And despite claims that the Netherlands has plenty of jobs for international workers, almost seven in 10 said not speaking Dutch was a problem when trying to find a job.

‘Even though the official work in all the tech companies is done in English, the culture within the organisation compels you to learn Dutch or else...]]> Sat, 21 Nov 2020 11:21:20 +0100
On Monday 28 September, the cabinet announced in a press conference in connection with tightened coronary measures that the limited capacity test will not be introduced in the Tozo 3 on 1 October 2020. The capital test will in any case expire on 1 April 2021. This means that entrepreneurs can apply for Tozo 3 for the period from 1 October 2020 up to and including 31 March 2021. For the period from 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021, a new application procedure will follow for Tozo 4. Read the Kamerbrief HERE
The Cabinet realizes that municipalities have been preparing...]]> Thu, 08 Oct 2020 13:42:20 +0200 You are invited to join our Expert Talk webinar: Diversity on the workfloor; How to make sure your female applicants make it to the final cut

Presented by Wendy Broersen - CEO and Founder of Superwomen Academy & our own expert Marjan Stoit - Sales & Recruitment Manager at Undutchables

Register here

We all would like to see more female applicants and make sure there are female professionals on the short list. But how do you do that? In this talk Wendy Broersen addresses all phases of the hiring process and beyond, to highlight what you can do to make...]]> Mon, 07 Sep 2020 15:08:45 +0200

Are you ready to advance your career?

Meet Nyenrode Business University digital and find out how an MBA program can boost your leadership impact and how you can gain an international view on business and management. Nyenrode’s unique combination of academic theory, practical relevance and personal development will enable you to apply what you learn during your MBA in the daily practice of your organization or your future career.

Which MBA suits you best?
- Full-time MBA, the European MBA based in Amsterdam.
- Executive MBA, focused on leadership and global business.
- Modulair Executive MBA, choose from 3 tracks: Business...]]> Wed, 22 Jul 2020 12:06:28 +0200
Can’t seem to find your dream internship in the FMCG industry? So many questions appeared, such as “Is my academic background good enough” or “Do I need to speak a foreign language?” These concerns should not stop you from landing on an amazing internship in FMCG. However, pre-requirements do mess with applicants’ minds but don’t worry. Let me ease your concerns by tearing these pre-requirements apart, as a recruitment intern at Henkel

Your spirit matters!
Of course, you are worried that people might have better academic backgrounds, results, or skills. However, at some companies like Henkel, it does not matter...]]> Tue, 21 Jul 2020 16:01:56 +0200
You are invited to join our Expert Talk: Multilinguals' Journey to the Netherlands
Presented by Dirk Meeuws COO & CTO at OnRecruit & our own expert Emmanuèle van Houdenhoven - Collard - Sales & Recruitment Manager at Undutchables

We take great pleasure in inviting you to join our 3rd Expert talk. This webinar will be about; Multilinguals' Journey to the Netherlands; in which we will show the multilingual candidates positioning in the Dutch labour market. Where do they come from, what drives them, which skills do they have and what is important to them during their job search in the...]]> Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:52:11 +0200
Reading time : 5 mins

Now it is time for all of us who navigated this pandemic safely, to face new challenges that awaits us. COVID19 changed all our lives in ways than we can imagine. I began this year in HR by focusing on building critical skills and competencies to meet the digital disruption that was widespread. However, COVID-19 drove an unprecedented transformation in business and ways of working in a very short period of time. The way we lead people, the way we manage our workforce and the tools have to be changed now. In this brief post,...]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:16:23 +0200
You are invited to join the Undutchables Expert Talk webinar:

Jobcrafting; In which you will learn more about the why, how and what of Jobcrafting.
Presented by Kim Jansen - Psychologist and Trainer at The Young Workforce & our own expert Marjan Stoit - Sales & Recruitment Manager at Undutchables

We take great pleasure in inviting you to join our 2nd Expert talk. This session will be about Jobcrafting; in which you will learn more about the why, how and what of Jobcrafting. And for you as (HR)manager it is fun and valuable to understand how to implement this concrete...]]> Tue, 16 Jun 2020 15:30:39 +0200
In a recent lawsuit in Amsterdam, a verdict was reached that an employer may not halve an employee’s salary because of the coronavirus crisis. The employer in question had done so because the compensation received through the NOW scheme was too low to pay the full salary.

The employer involved in the lawsuit, who runs a restaurant in Amsterdam, found himself in financial trouble as a result of the coronavirus crisis. In March, he applied for compensation through the NOW scheme and received 60% of the wage bill of January 2020 as monthly compensation. He responded by paying all of...]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2020 10:46:03 +0200

Dismissal on probation
How does the trial period work?
The probationary period is a short period at the beginning of an employment contract in which the employment contract can be terminated immediately by both the employer and yourself. There is only a probationary period if this period has been agreed upon in writing.

Duration of the probationary period
The maximum duration of the probationary period that can be agreed depends on the length of your employment contract. For example, the probation period for an open-ended employment contract may not exceed two months. Even if there is a fixed-term employment contract...]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2020 08:48:55 +0200
Are you ready to advance your career?
Virtual MBA Roadshow June 29 2020, 5:00 PM

Meet Nyenrode Business University digital and find out how an MBA program can boost your leadership impact and how you can gain an international view on business and management. Nyenrode’s unique combination of academic theory, practical relevance and personal development will enable you to apply what you learn during your MBA in the daily practice of your organization or your future career.

Which MBA suits you best?
- Full-time MBA, the European MBA based in Amsterdam.
- Executive MBA, focused on leadership and global business.
-...]]> Wed, 03 Jun 2020 21:42:27 +0200
Learn Time Balance

In our busy world, it is sometimes challenging to combine work with private and social life, while not getting stressed. The trick is in knowing and following a time balance. Here are some time-management tips which will hopefully help you to not lose your nerves and to stay efficient and happy within and outside your work. 1. Do a time audit of your regular week
Spend one week looking where and how you spend your time. Using these results, consider how you may redistribute your time to have enough for the activities you really value. Also notice...]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2020 06:07:54 +0200
Incorporating Work–Life Balance Values in Corporate Culture

The importance of the work–life balance is strong nowadays, so is our interest in it. The concept of this phenomenon has gone through major changes. The first understanding of it was the time balance between “work” and “play”, however things are much more complex. The work–life balance is the theory of appropriately prioritizing work style with lifestyle, including family, leisure time, personal development, etc. This balance is different for everybody, depending on the needs of every person. Some put great importance on their work ambitions, others emphasize on family development, or hobbies and...]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2020 06:05:14 +0200
The importance of work – life balance is growing strong nowadays, so is our interest in it. The concept of this phenomenon has gone through major changes. The first understanding of it was the time balance between “work” and “play”, however things are much more complex. The work – life balance is the theory of prioritizing appropriately workstyle with lifestyle, including family, leisure time, personal development, etc. This balance is different for everybody, depending on the needs of every person. Some put great importance on their work ambitions, others emphasize on family development or hobbies and personal time. Thus work-life...]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2020 06:03:37 +0200 NOW scheme (wages allowance for employers) is ready! counters almost open ( 31 March 2020)

During the corona crisis, the cabinet wants to protect people's jobs and incomes. Therefore, an economic emergency package was announced on March 17. One of the measures is a compensation for the wage costs for companies that are now losing turnover. The terms of this temporary emergency measure bridge for preservation of property (NOW) have been announced today. UWV strives for companies to submit an application from April 6. Companies that meet the conditions can expect an advance within two to four weeks.

Many entrepreneurs are...]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2020 05:37:41 +0200

It is possible to become less stressed if you are following these eight things:

1. Do one thing at a time.
This statement was backed up by relevant research at the Stanford University. The researchers found that “multitaskers were terrible in all three experiments, worst of all the researchers found that when frequent multitaskers attempted to focus on a single task, they used their brains less effectively than non-frequent multitaskers.” Instead of stressing yourself with many things at the same time, focus and finish one thing first, and then move to the next task.

2. Double the estimate of how...]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:37:35 +0200 Silence and noise during the Corona crisis

Professors are streaming lectures from home, students have gone to their parents, when possible, and employees are looking for possibilities to collaborate online. It is quiet at the campuses of Nyenrode Business University.

Everyone is finding their way at home between preparing sandwiches for children, conference calls, writing course outlines and reading manuals about digital teaching. On campus, in Breukelen as well as in Amsterdam, occasionally you come across a student, an employee or a professor looking for coffee, while they focus on a project that they cannot complete from home. Apart from...]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2020 08:49:46 +0200 MBA – The masterplan for your career

Join the QS MBA Event in Amsterdam this March

The key to succeed in today’s business is having the right qualification and a professional network. An MBA from a well-respected, highly-ranked business schools offers you exactly that!
The Master of Business Administration is a renowned management degree that is not only popular with its students but with companies and recruiters all over the world. Its combination of business theory, case studies and networking can upgrade your career to the next level.

Meet Top Business Schools in person

So how can you apply for...]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2020 16:36:12 +0100
WHAT IS OUTPLACEMENT & WHAT DOES AN OUTPLACEMENT SERVICE DO?
When an organization makes the tough decision to lay off employees, Outplacement Service is one of the most important parts of any severance package they offer.
Outplacement is a service offered to employees who have lost or will be losing their job to help them quickly find a new and satisfying job.

Outplacement iservice s a benefit offered by responsible organizations to help former employees quickly find a new job in the job market.
Outplacement services include career coaching, resume and CV writing, interview preparation, referrals to hiring managers and targeted...]]> Fri, 14 Feb 2020 15:40:49 +0100
Presentations at the Expat Fair, Sunday 6 October - register now!

Our extensive programme includes a wide variety of workshops and presentations, all geared to making your transition to life in the Netherlands easier. More than 40 professionals will introduce you to everything you need to know about their area of expertise: themes include Relocation, Finance, Jobs for Expats, Family, Healthcare, Education, Transport and Housing & Setting Up Home.
Get your free Expat Fair ticket here, and you will also receive a personal link to register for any presentations you want to see.

Nedles will be there to give you the...]]> Mon, 30 Sep 2019 09:52:22 +0200

Madison Parker International BV is a strategic recruitment consultancy specialized in the global placement of permanent and interim professionals, fully supporting major businesses in the commercial, finance and technology sectors in the Netherlands and various international markets.
Recently we interviewed the Management from Madison Parker International BV. We talked with Salah El Kholali, from The Hague office, who joined Madison Parker International early 2018. Besides his strong knowledge of Recruitment he build over the years, his area of expertise is Business Development & Strategy.

Tell us about your function at the Madison Parker job agency and what is the motivational driving force in your job? 
My role at Madison Parker...]]> Tue, 09 Jul 2019 17:21:51 +0200
“Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.”—Buddha

“People who are happy in life have an easy time feeling good and recovering from adversity; they have close, supportive social connections; and they believe that their presence in the world matters,” writes Emiliana Simon-Thomas, the science director of Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, on the Greater Good Magazine. Similarly, she defines happiness at work as “feeling an overall sense of enjoyment at work; being able to gracefully handle setbacks; connecting amicably with colleagues, coworkers, clients, and customers; and knowing that your work matters to yourself,...]]> Thu, 11 Jul 2019 10:40:16 +0200 “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”— Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen monk and mindfulness meditation master.

Mindfulness is the ability to be aware of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings in a gentle, non-judgmental way. When we practice mindfulness in our daily lives, our thoughts tune into what we are sensing in the present moment rather than dwelling in the past or imagining the future, thus helping us to become calmer and kinder to ourselves and others.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program in the United...]]> Wed, 05 Jun 2019 20:03:55 +0200 Google for Jobs Is Coming to the Netherlands

Rumor has it that Google’s job search engine Google for Jobs is coming to the Netherlands. Is that true? Apparently yes, and very soon. Even though the service is available in a few countries, it is not fully available in Europe yet. On April 2019, however, Emerce reported that Google for Jobs was already being tested in the Netherlands and France. Richard Collins from ClickID, one of Google’s partners, told Emerce: “Google for Jobs is reportedly testing in the Netherlands and France, theoretically they could launch before the summer.”

Google for Jobs...]]> Wed, 15 May 2019 20:02:27 +0200 Join the Undutchables team and internationals from all over the world for one of the most anticipated parties of the year. On May 18th 2019 we will be hosting our annual Eurovision Songfestival party. Just like every year the party will have a theme, this year the theme is Calling all Comic & Superheroes. You are invited to put your mask on and party with us. Are you feeling heroic?
There will be a private viewing area with Silent Disco where you can watch the Song Contest unfold. At the same time we will have a DJ downstairs for those...]]> Mon, 29 Apr 2019 12:18:10 +0200
The world is changing fast and so is the world of work. Technological transformation, global competition, and demographic change are affecting drastically how we work, consume and live. These three factors, according to the study Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2018, have determined two trends in the European labor market: Human capital quality improvement (reskilling) and highly diverse forms of work (atypical working).

Atypical work, defined by Eurofound (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions), is any employment relationship that do not conform to the standard or ‘typical’ model of full-time, regular, open-ended employment with a single...]]> Tue, 23 Apr 2019 14:50:26 +0200 Employer Branding and What It Comprises?
In an era driven by Artificial Intelligence and Automation, Employer Branding is the much-needed human touch to a company. According to LinkedIn, 80% of HR managers and recruiters around the world agree that a great brand makes it easier to recruit the right talent. Before diving into the details of employer branding, it is essential to highlight the differences between certain terminologies that are often misused synonymously.

Corporate Brand (CB), or simply ‘the brand,’ encompasses a firm’s business and the product or service they sell – brand as a service provider. CB can be perceived...]]> Tue, 16 Apr 2019 15:53:16 +0200
“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.”—Harvey Firestone, American businessman and founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.

Well-being, in short, is the state of being comfortable, healthy, and happy. Can the work environment be a place where people feel comfortable, healthy and happy? Yes, it can, and it should be. Focusing on employees’ well-being is not only the right thing to do: “Following the greatness of human spirit, everyone should be given an equal opportunity to acquire knowledge, develop skills, and use his or her natural talents in the workplace, thus creating joy.“—says...]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2019 20:11:16 +0200 How to Attract Top Talent

‘Top talent’ is a buzzword that is thrown around a lot in the job marketplace. As the job market has grown naturally competitive, the demand for the best possible workers has grown exponentially. A wrong recruit can end up costing money, time and training if they turn out to be a bad fit, but on the other hand, companies want to know how to attract workers who will go above and beyond what is expected of them.

What Is ‘Top Talent’?

While the general idea of top talent constitutes an ideal employee, who performs or...]]> Tue, 09 Apr 2019 13:05:17 +0200 Do’s and Don’ts of HR Analytics People are the core of business. It is known that, among executives’ global business concerns, human capital is the top issue. Organizations that can attract the right skills, manage talent and utilize its capacity effectively, and retain employees will be paving their way for long-term success. Today, however, human resources departments (HR) of most organizations are generating enormous amounts of data that can be difficult to assimilate. The question is how to turn this data into valuable insights that support decision making. Here is where HR analytics comes into play.

Human resource analytics (HR...]]> Tue, 02 Apr 2019 13:00:32 +0200 6 Steps to Effective Time Management How many times have you heard someone say: “There aren't enough hours in the day?” It is easy to spiral further into a stressful state after taking on an unrealistic workload or not effectively managing your time. Workloads can become overwhelming and social lives suffer, yet this does not have to be the case. Practicality, communication, and positivity are essential in ensuring deadlines are met and stress levels are kept to a minimum. Here are six steps to go about effective time management:

1. Prioritise

The best starting point in time management is to create a...]]> Mon, 25 Mar 2019 21:26:11 +0100 The Do’s and Don’ts of Social Recruitment

According to the Arberdeen group, 73% of millennials found their last job through a social media site. The use of social platforms as a talent database or advertising platform is a shift in the employment landscape that takes advantage of online engagement to actively seek out top talent through building company brand awareness and online reputation. Having a company with a large online presence that clearly communicates its values significantly reduces the time it takes to fill in vacancies.

With 75% of potential hires not actively searching for a new role, it is up...]]> Tue, 19 Mar 2019 15:46:44 +0100
Generation Z (Gen Z) refers to the population born between 1995 and 2012—people of 23 years-old in average today—which will be forming the modern workforce, and that, according to United Nations, will account for 32 per cent of the global population in 2019. Compared to previous generations X (millennials of 48 years-old in average) and Y (32 years-old in average), Gen Z brings new characteristics to the table that represent a challenge and an opportunity to those companies aware of the emergence of this new talent wave.

Different generations usually differ, but there might be a special ground for challenge...]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2019 14:11:23 +0100 “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”—John Quincy Adams, President of the United States from 1825 to 1829.

Positive leadership, according to the Financial Times’ lexicon, are the principles that promote thriving at work, interpersonal flourishing, virtuous behaviors, positive emotions, and energizing networks. It focuses on facilitating the best of the human condition to emerge—its virtuousness—and thus, motivate people to unlock their potential inside the organizations.

Inspiring positive emotions in the workplace is highly beneficial and widely documented within scientific research and positive psychology. Positive emotions like joy,...]]> Thu, 07 Mar 2019 16:31:55 +0100   What Is the Difference Between Recruiters and Intermediaries?

To clear the confusion once and for all, we will answer the question: what is the difference between recruiters and intermediaries?

What is a recruiter?
The word recruiter probably betrays what this person is responsible for within a company: recruiting and selecting new staff. When we ask Google for a definition of the term 'recruiter', we find out that Google hides a deep-seated dislike of recruiters. Fortunately, we know better.

The office of a recruiter is at (large) companies where people are regularly sought out for a specific vacancy. For example, if...]]> Fri, 23 Nov 2018 11:02:20 +0100 Interview with Team Coach Sylvia Melzer


“I believe we can have more fun and create better results if we learn to understand and appreciate each other. I want to better the workplace.”


Sylvia Melzer works as a Team Coach, Organizational Advisor, and Interim Manager. Her extensive 20+ years working in teams herself, in a variety of roles from manager to consultant to projects, provides her with the experience and skill sets needed to navigate the highs and lows of teamwork. Sylvia Melzer has a bicultural upbringing, whereby she is sensitive to the nuances of cultural differences and she is a...]]> Wed, 21 Nov 2018 16:32:09 +0100 Why Reconcile Technology and Communication

Technology has transformed communication by increasing the transparency in the way we converse. Mimicking human interaction is perpetually developing as we can now talk to our devices and they respond. Streamlining technology and communication has enhanced our collaboration in the workplace and will continue to do so as we embrace technological advances such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Acutely aware of these branches of technology, the Netherlands is heralded as ‘The Digital Gateway to Europe,’ with their government backing the digitalisation of healthcare, mobility,...]]> Fri, 16 Nov 2018 12:28:44 +0100
Why You Should Put Millennials at the Heart of Your International Hiring Strategy

There are three forces acting on the world of international hiring and assignments and these are creating a need for recruiters and HR to shift their strategic focus to the Millennial Generation (Born 1998 -2002).

This does not mean discarding Generation Y (Born 1965 1982) and Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964), as a multi-generational hiring strategy will lead to diverse teams that are more flexible and adaptable and more high performing; I am fully behind multi-generational teams!

However, the demographic shifts that are occurring in the candidate marketplace...]]> Thu, 15 Nov 2018 15:09:40 +0100 Why Job Recruitment Agencies Are Needed in a Flexible Economy

As the Dutch economy continues to grow, some of it as a result of its fast-expanding digital economy, some have questioned the role of the Netherlands’ job recruitment agencies (uitzendbureaus) that have always played a significant role in its unique working culture. These temporary employment agencies owe their existence to the economic climate of the second half of the 20th century—a period of economic fluctuation within various sectors. In general, this is also evident in sectors like the agricultural industry, which calls on temporary workers based around the seasonal growth...]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2018 12:35:17 +0100 How the Digital Economy Works

What started out as a new way of delivering goods through online digital sales has transformed the way global business is done, as well as the economy as a whole; the internet has driven the world towards a new Age of Network Intelligence where a plethora of information is readily available at our fingertips. Our everyday lives have forever changed, from the way we can find specific jobs through a simple Google search to the way we easily interact with others through social media. Not only has the digital economy created new opportunities through globalised...]]> Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:02:19 +0100 Digitalization and Job Hiring in the Netherlands

The world as we know it is changing at a fast pace, moving from traditional business and cultural forms to digital technology in a process called digitalization. This process affects all aspects of our society, from communications, to production, to environment, to sales, to family life, and to working conditions. Today, we can even speak of a digital world, with a span including most ages and geographies across the planet: Half of the world's population is online, one third is on a social network, and more than half use mobile technology. This represents...]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2018 14:12:01 +0100 The Importance of Job Recruitment Agencies in a Flexible Economy

As the Dutch economy continues to grow, some of it as a result of its fast-expanding digital economy, some have questioned the role of the Netherlands’ job recruitment agencies (uitzendbureaus) that have always played a significant role in its unique working culture. These temporary employment agencies owe their existence to the economic climate of the second half of the 20th century—a period of economic fluctuation within various sectors. In general, this is also evident in sectors like the agricultural industry, which calls on temporary workers based around the seasonal growth...]]> Fri, 12 Oct 2018 15:37:10 +0200 Cyber War and the Implications for Organisations

For as long as companies and their consumers have become increasingly dependent on the internet to conduct business, there have been growing concerns regarding their vulnerability to malicious online attackers. Malware attacks, DDOS attacks or stolen personal information are valid threats to websites, and they are among some of the reasons why an increasing number of businesses are looking into responsible methods of protection.

Last year, Equifax, a consumer-reporting agency, revealed a data breach in which the personal details of over 146 million people in the US were stolen, including names, social security...]]> Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:01:30 +0200   5 Tips to Bring Out the Best in Employees

A competitive salary is enough to attract candidates to the door, but maintaining employee motivation and morale is a continuous challenge for employers. Ray Williams of Psychology Today says that a person becomes motivated when they have a sense of purpose to achieve both their own goals and the goals of a company. Essentially, any action that can connect the needs of a worker with the objectives of an organisation can have a substantial positive impact on the motivation of a workforce.

1. Company benefits
In addition to competitive pay, candidates...]]> Thu, 04 Oct 2018 13:24:52 +0200

Effective Communication with Management

“He doesn’t understand me at all” is what my colleague said, as she fell back in her chair earlier this week. She has mixed feelings about management in general. They are busy with meetings but have no clue what we actually do; asking them anything will never result in clear or workable answers; their well-meant new ideas are only an extra burden to our already overflowing workdays. Relations between employees and their managers are not always positive. Many of the clients I speak to do not have the best of memories and experiences with their direct...]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2018 16:08:54 +0200  

How to Be Wanted by Recruiters

In the stressful business of applying for jobs, recruiters are often the primary gateway to getting the position. Winning them over has many elements, and each one takes some unpacking before you have a strategy that will work. A good CV is an essential part of that strategy, but it is not the only one. Your personal brand, your education, your work experience and even your values all factor into how recruiters view you as a potential candidate.


Recruiters are people too. They are there to find candidates for jobs, not jobs for candidates....]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2018 12:21:13 +0200
The Netherlands is renowned for having the happiest employees in the world. The Dutch employment protection legislation (EPL), preventing the firing of permanent workers, is globally unique. Dutch employment contracts are, unless otherwise specified,assumed to be valid indefinitely. However, an emerging shift in the Dutch labour market towards more flexible and freelance contracts has brought about somewhat of a contradiction in how the Dutch view the concept of job security. Legislation has slowly caught up with these changing circumstances, adjusting to the new trend while still trying to maintain a form of job security that Dutch employees are...]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2018 15:06:43 +0200
The changes for HR in 2019


What will HR professionals notice about the plans that the Cabinet has in store for 2019? The budget of the Rutte III cabinet provides a little more purchasing power. But much also depends on employers and trade unions: they have to provide higher wages and conclude an agreement on pensions. Personeelsnet gives an extensive overview here of measures that HR will face in 2019.


HR professionals will encounter many changes next year, such as: an extension of maternity leave, change to the chain scheme, and compensation for the transition allowance.


Personeelsnet below lists the...]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2018 09:01:07 +0200
The Dutch Cabinet announces reforms in the labor market

The Budget Memorandum and the Tax Plan for 2019 have been presented. Here are the highlights for the labor market.

The 'Opportunities for the future' section of the Budget Memorandum 2019 endorses the government's desire for a smooth, balanced labor market. There is not much news on this part, as the intentions of the cabinet were already known. However, the changes are very significant to HR.

Labor market and economy

In the Budget Memorandum 2019, the Cabinet first makes room to determine the importance of a good labor market for the economy: “To...]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2018 08:30:22 +0200
Behaviour to Avoid in the Dutch Workplace

Once you have a job in the Netherlands, the next step is to adapt to the Dutch way of doing business. Depending on your cultural background this will either come as a big shock or a small adjustment to your expectations. It is essential to understand the Dutch workplace, and which behaviour you should avoid, to be successful in your career in the Netherlands. What is clear is that the Dutch take their Nederlandse werkcultuur seriously, with the country having a healthy sense of work-life balance and some of the shortest working weeks...]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2018 10:30:44 +0200
Hiring an employee is only the first step in a long road to maximising their potential for the benefit of their career, and is essential for any company to thrive and succeed. Ensuring future growth means companies should be committed to a sustainable talent development strategy that consistently retains top talent. In an increasingly globalised economy, young workers are more willing to jump ship and move jobs more frequently; one survey found that around 38% of millennials were expecting to switch jobs within the next two years.

Many forward-thinking companies realise that maintaining their competitiveness in the job market and...]]> Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:22:54 +0200
The Do’s and Dont’s in the Egalitarian Dutch Workplace

The Netherlands provides businesses with a perfect strategic location from which to serve markets within the EU, including central and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The openness of the Dutch economy is one of the reasons why the Netherlands is extremely popular with foreign companies. And, of course, its egalitarian model of the workplace. In the egalitarian model, employees have general job descriptions, rather than specific ones as with the traditional hierarchical corporate structure. They also work collaboratively on tasks and behave as equals, instead of reporting to a superior....]]> Tue, 28 Aug 2018 16:10:45 +0200
New EU Privacy Law
Many online users have likely noticed an influx of emails, from some companies, highlighting new privacy policies and user agreements online in cooperation with new EU laws.The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be the most significant data protection overhaul in two decades starting from 25th May, replacing the out-dated and much criticised 1995 EU Data Protection Directive (DPD); it seeks to address the growing challenges of globalisation and international data flow, as well as improving user control over their own personal data online. The new laws will strictly apply to all companies operating in...]]> Tue, 28 Aug 2018 16:56:05 +0200

Branding is essential for every company to attract new partners, customers and candidates. Branding helps build strong and long-term relationships by increasing the brand awareness within the industry. Nowadays, companies try to recruit talents that they can benefit from, including at a reduced cost of hire, and with useful results and positive recognition. In fact, there are specific practices of branding that employers can apply to recruit talent effectively.

According to a 2014 research from HR analyst Aptitude Research Partners, 1 in 4 companies is not confident about their employer branding. Employer branding consists of a combination of functional, economical...]]> Fri, 20 Jul 2018 14:05:23 +0200
Flexible labour and self-employment in the Netherlands are on the rise, says an overview report by TNO Innovation for Life and Statistics Netherlands. Workers with a flexible employment contract have risen from 12% in 2001 to 16% in 2012. In 2014, the proportion of Dutch employees with a flexible work relationship increased even further to 22%, according to the report. This makes the Netherlands one of the top three EU15 countries with high rates of labour market flexibility, right behind Portugal and Spain. The group of flexible workers is diverse, and it is comprised of:
• employees with a fixed-term...]]> Fri, 20 Jul 2018 13:52:55 +0200  
Employee development matters. Successful companies not only invest in human capital, they also know how relevant it is to focus on employees’ welfare and continued learning to maintain engagement and creativity inside their organizations. Helping people reach their fullest potential means investing in the future by fostering productivity and retaining talent within the group.

Studies have shown that organizations with a career development program demonstrate up to 250% higher productivity (Scales, 2012); 25% higher employee retention (Deloitte Research Brief, 2012); 10% sales improvement (Sales Enablement Optimization Study, 2016); and 13% stronger business results (Bersin, 2011). Besides improving productivity, retention, sales,...]]> Fri, 20 Jul 2018 13:44:00 +0200 Business culture thrives on managers. Managers drive their organizations. And nothing is more important than the place where they perform. That is why it is vital for companies to position the right person at the right place. But great managers are scarce. In general, it is difficult to find the exact combination of professional and human skills required to successfully lead a group of people within one person. Some of those talents, however, can be taught.

Management style will slightly differ between countries depending on their business culture. In the Netherlands’ egalitarian society, for example, managers and subordinates are expected...]]> Fri, 20 Jul 2018 13:36:11 +0200

Nowadays, more than ever, having a diverse workforce with people from different cultures and backgrounds is essential for a company’s success. A large number of managers are instilling the idea of diversity in their companies hoping to reap the benefits it brings with it.

Having a diverse work environment, however, does not necessarily mean that your company will be successful. Diversity needs to be understood on all levels and most importantly implemented accordingly in order to start seeing changes. The question most people struggle with is how to go about the concept of diversity.

Before we can answer that question,...]]> Fri, 20 Jul 2018 13:18:17 +0200
Flexible labour and self-employment in the Netherlands are on the rise, says an overview report by TNO Innovation for Life and Statistics Netherlands. Workers with a flexible employment contract have risen from 12% in 2001 to 16% in 2012. In 2014, the proportion of Dutch employees with a flexible work relationship increased even further to 22%, according to the report. This makes the Netherlands one of the top three EU15 countries with high rates of labour market flexibility, right behind Portugal and Spain. The group of flexible workers is diverse, and it is comprised of:
• employees with a fixed-term...]]> Thu, 21 Jun 2018 09:10:34 +0200
We have shared a lot with you about our company, our events, the Netherlands as a country and their traditions. We feel like it is high time you got acquainted with some of our colleagues. This ‘recruiter’ blog will give you more insight into the life of a recruiter, the challenges they face, their most memorable moments and their guilty pleasures. This week we will introduce the Utrecht recruiter, Oliver Gell. Enjoy!


1. How did you end up in recruitment?

Recruitment has been something that I have wanted to be a part of for the past 4 years. In 2017...]]> Mon, 28 May 2018 16:15:22 +0200

Adams Multilingual Recruitment has been established for over 20 years and is known in the international market for placing well-qualified, highly-educated, multilingual candidates in junior, mid-level and senior roles with leading companies throughout the Netherlands.
Recently we interviewed two Senior Recruitment Consultants from Adams. We talked with Sylvia Lubak, from the Amsterdam office and Audrey Monje, from the Rotterdam branch. Sylvia joined Adams in 2010. Her area of expertise is placing Finance and IT candidates with international companies. Audrey joined Adams in 2013. She has 2 specialist fields - Supply Chain & Logistics and Multilingual Customer Service roles. 

What is...]]> Tue, 01 May 2018 14:50:37 +0200
SPOUSE | PARTNER CAREER SUPPORT in the Netherlands
Why Partner Employment is a Key Issue for Company's Hiring Expats

Why should partner| Spouse employment be a key issue for international employers looking to hire overseas applicants into their business? Well, according to a unique study by the Permits Foundation, titled the International Survey of Expatriate Spouses and Partners, 60% of the global workforce would be 'unlikely to relocate to a country where it is difficult for their partner or spouse to find work'. This was a very expansive study, which took in the views of 3,300 expatriate spouses and partners...]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2018 15:54:52 +0200
Should We Invest in Bitcoin?

Bitcoin has made the headlines in recent years, and in particular since it hit the historic value of almost $20,000 at the end of 2017, after a remarkable price run that started with the virtual currency being traded at below $1000 at the beginning of that year. This publicity went hand-in-hand with another feature of Bitcoin, which was (and is) the fact that the currency is still relatively badly understood outside of tech circles. So what is Bitcoin, and should you invest in it?

Before answering this question, it is worth reviewing a number of...]]> Mon, 16 Apr 2018 13:48:40 +0200
Adaptability vs Vision in Leaders

Change is an ever present feature of today’s world. This is especially true in the world of business. The complexity of doing business can give rise to a tension between a company’s vision, and the organizational adaptability that the firm needs to adopt in order to maintain that vision. With the pace of change increasing, a variety of leadership skills are urgently needed, as well as a strategy to determine which skill to use for a given challenge.

In 2010, IBM’s CEO study reported that the rising rate of complexity associated with the fast paced...]]> Tue, 03 Apr 2018 10:34:31 +0200 Proven Methods in Diversity Management

In business, diversity management is finding the best practice to create and maintain a diverse and inclusive workplace that, in turn, can benefit from a wide range of experiences and talents. Benefitting from diversity is especially important for corporations that wish to succeed in a global market. As Malcolm Forbes said: “diversity is the art of thinking independently together.”

Diversity is not merely about being inclusive of different races and genders within a business, but about making the most of a team with different cultural backgrounds, beliefs, experiences and business methods. Successful diversity management should...]]> Tue, 03 Apr 2018 10:12:43 +0200 What HR Needs to Know About UI and UX

Digitalization has brought about a drastic change in people's requirements with technology. This is no different at the work environment. Applications that are simple and intuitive are key. The right user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) allows businesses to provide such applications to their employees. UI refers to the visual aesthetics, elements such as icons for smartphones, tablets, web, or even smart watches. UX, on the other hand, has more to do with all the things affecting a user's interaction with the product itself, it is about designing experience for...]]> Tue, 03 Apr 2018 10:08:05 +0200
Human resource strategy is about the HR department having a proactive role in the organization’s employees, so that the employees have the necessary tools and attitudes to help them align with the organization’s vision.
The modern organization cannot work without HR Management. And good HR Management is always based on the underlying HR Strategy. Generally, HR Strategy is a roadmap of HR, as it allows the HR department to find the right strategies to adopt, and so assures top management that employees are on the right path with the direction they have laid out. Essentially, HR Strategy is groundwork for...]]> Tue, 06 Mar 2018 21:25:44 +0100
Research has shown that more than 50% of mergers and acquisitions fail, yet mergers between two companies happen quite often for various potential advantages in the world of business. In most cases the basic goal is to grow a company’s portfolio, enter a new market or to acquire new talent. However, despite these perks, mergers still fail due to a variety of factors: clashes of personalities and priorities between companies, different company cultures and difficulties within leadership. One of the most troublesome issues with mergers and acquisitions is the failure of management to maintain control of a new and larger...]]> Tue, 06 Mar 2018 21:17:49 +0100
Working in the Netherlands can provide some useful benefits in terms of compensations, thanks to employment laws that enforce positive relations between employees and employers. Knowing these potential benefits is important for both job seekers and employers to better understand what companies are expected to offer in the area of both direct and indirect benefits that make up compensation packages. In the Netherlands, there has been a growing trend of cultivating a work ethos that accommodates the ‘wellness’ of employees, including benefits such as flexible working hours and a higher national minimum wage.

Starting out with the basics, job candidates...]]> Tue, 06 Mar 2018 21:12:54 +0100
There are few things in life more certain than this: Change is inevitable. At some point, we all have to face transformations in our lives, our circumstances, or at work. We can even say, from a bigger perspective, that change is always present. The gentle old man that brings our newspaper does not come anymore, the trees from the street are cut out modifying the landscape, or our aunt unexpectedly dies. In any given situation, change can bring about uncertainty and concern, but can also be an opportunity to grow.

Business organizations experience change all the time, especially during financial...]]> Tue, 06 Mar 2018 21:03:31 +0100
In today’s modern economy, employees are spending much longer at their desks. Certainly longer than the traditional 9-5 work week. But more hours spent at work does not automatically translate into more productivity. The success of a company is directly related to the performance of its employees, and the most successful companies are the ones with the most effective performance management systems. So what strategies can companies adopt to maximise their employee performance?

The Harvard Business Review published an article in March 2017 entitled “Great Companies Obsess Over Productivity, Not Efficiency”. In this article the author wrote that many companies...]]> Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:59:38 +0100
Group interviews have become popular among employers. Organisations set up group interviews to simultaneously interview candidates for a single position. This technique is best used for positions that require excellent people skills when dealing with customers or clients. Group interviews are used to see how candidates stand out from each other and to observe their behaviours, and to help the employer cut down expenses (instead of interviewing each candidate individually). Group interviews must be well-planned and executed to yield a positive result.

Group interview process and set up

The interviewer should have a clear structure or agenda to ask candidates...]]> Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:54:38 +0100

Highly skilled professionals are not always easy to find. It is often the case that their level of expertise, knowledge or ability is in great demand in the job market, with a limited number of candidates available. Many of them are passive candidates, currently employed professionals that are not actively searching for jobs. In these cases, it is not enough to trust only traditional job postings to find and attract them. Employers must use the multiple resources available, including online technology, human contact, sourcing through resume databases, and social media, to mention a few.

But how can you, the employer,...]]> Fri, 02 Feb 2018 06:28:47 +0100 With a changing business environment and the fast paced nature of technological change, it is important for companies to maintain or improve the skills of their employees to keep them at a competitive advantage. Demographic upheavals have resulted in over half of the total workforce now being comprised of millennials, and by 2025 this figure is expected to rise to three quarters. They bring with them high expectations of a rich and rewarding working experience, including constant learning and development opportunities. One way in which companies can match these expectations is via home study institutions or platforms, which provide self-serving...]]> Fri, 02 Feb 2018 06:08:45 +0100
The protection of confidential information and company secrets has formed an integral part of working culture in the Netherlands, with increasing number of employment contracts including some form of confidentiality clause. Under these contracts, employees are legally unauthorised from sharing company information, even some time after the termination of their employment. The first obvious penalty for violating one of these contracts is the immediate termination of one’s employment, for the breach of confidentiality as well as one’s employment contract.

What some employees fail to realise is that a non-disclosure agreement is a legally binding contract, and thus any breach is...]]> Fri, 02 Feb 2018 06:01:58 +0100
As consumers become more ethically conscious of the companies they choose to patronise, companies need to maintain a cleaner image and to demonstrate their commitment to ethical business practices. Furthermore, companies currently try to incorporate good citizenship into their business culture through various contributions to society. However, it is natural that consumers may be sceptical of these companies’ motives, since companies in the private sector typically aim to maximise profits and keep investors happy.

Being at the forefront of modern business practices, Google has set their own trend in social responsibility with the introduction of Google Green; a programme that...]]> Fri, 02 Feb 2018 05:58:44 +0100
Leadership is essentially a process by which individuals influence the behaviours, attitudes and thoughts of others. Leaders set the direction by helping others see what lies ahead of them and rising to the challenges. They encourage everyone to fulfil their potential and they inspire them in the process. Leading by example is a trait of true leaders and when lacking, a group can quickly degenerate into conflict because everyone has a different perspective and will naturally lean toward different opinions and solutions.

Leaders are often seen in the face of those who guide nations or businesses. They can use their...]]> Fri, 02 Feb 2018 05:49:27 +0100
Due to growing competition in the business world, companies are more than ever dependent on the skills and talents of their employees. Therefore, more and more firms are adopting a new HR strategy called “talent acquisition”.

It is common to confuse talent acquisition with recruitment, despite the fact that they have similar procedures and the same end goal—to hire the best people, yet there are some key differences, too.

What is talent acquisition?

While recruitment is a more simplified process,talent acquisition is a quite complicated procedure that consists of a long-term view, and it is not necessarily a linear process....]]> Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:58:56 +0100
Most employees dread the idea of performance evaluations at work, seeing it as an ultimately pointless, but obligatory process. These days, many companies have introduced the use of self-evaluation with the purpose of better participation and active engagement with employees regarding their work performance; through this method, employees are expected to set personal job goals and career goals based on how they perceive their own work performance, which in turn pushes employees to be more self-aware of their work ethic and how to actively improve themselves.

As with more traditional performance evaluations, the purpose of self-evaluation is to promote more...]]> Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:42:48 +0100
Favouring an employee above others is a common occurrence in the workplace; it can start out innocently when a boss sees potential in an employee, giving them opportunities to reflect their talent, but this can easily turn into favouritism when that employee is given preferential treatment based on no other criteria. Many companies aim to avoid the controversial issue of favouritism in order to maintain a level merit-based playing field, where all employees are treated fairly and are given access to the same opportunities based on their individual performance.

Playing favourites in the workplace is typically defined as misconduct due...]]> Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:34:24 +0100
In the world of competitive business, preventing trade secrets and employees from falling into the wrong hands is necessary for a company’s success. Under Dutch law, non-competition clauses provide a contractual obligation to prevent employees from finding employment with a competitor after the termination of their employment, with the main purpose of protecting an employer’s business interests through the protection of valuable company information and the remaining employees. Under normal circumstances, this type of agreement is not permanent and typically lasts for a year, and failure to comply can mean enforcing the clause in a court case, which can allow...]]> Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:24:49 +0100
The rapid progress in technology has fundamentally influenced the development of the modern workplace. Traditional methods of learning have given way to new modes of communication and collaboration. Companies have started to incorporate these new methods into their learning and training programs, both on-site and at home. Doing so allows them to employ innovative techniques for continual learning for employees outside of the workplace, as well as reduce training costs. The number of technologies utilized is beyond the scope of this article, but the main ones will be considered.

One of the main uses of technology for employee development pertains...]]> Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:13:08 +0100
Business environment characterizes itself for being a highly complex, ever-changing and competitive space, where companies need to evolve at a high pace if they want to survive. In this context, it is the mindset of great leaders and their crucial set of skills that will determine the necessary innovation and the consequent success of their organizations.

Dutch business culture is no exception to this reality, with the particularity that their structures reflect the egalitarianism and openness that characterises Dutch society in general. Many Dutch companies, thus, show horizontal hierarchies, where a managing director and employees are considered co-workers. In this...]]> Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:01:15 +0100
Many companies – large and small, seem to be driven by the concept “pay for performance”. The popular understanding of its meaning reflects the longstanding belief in the corporate world that financial incentives are the most powerful motivator of executive performance.
Yet the findings of various studies by behavioral psychologists suggest otherwise. These findings have profound implications, for they raise questions about the motivational rationale underlying incentive compensation programs.

A meta-analysis by Jenkins and co. tried to ascertain whether, and how strongly, financial incentives are related to performance quantity and quality. They were aware of the well-established view that financial...]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2017 22:20:12 +0100 Healthcare insurance for expats is a mandatory requirement. Expats are expected to obtain at least basic health insurance within four months of their stay in the Netherlands, and to pay for health insurance once they have obtained a residence permit, or when they start working in the Netherlands. Dutch companies should make sure that their expat employees have the appropriate health insurance as required by law.

Health insurance in the Netherlands is based on Zorgverzekeringswet (ZVW) healthcare insurance law and the AWBZ general law on exceptional medical expenses. ZVW healthcare insurance law is used for short-term medical care relating to...]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2017 22:05:46 +0100
Encouraging and supporting employee development is important not only for the employees themselves, but also for the managers and company as a whole. Many successful companies put employee development at the forefront of their business plans, knowing that the benefits of doing so are immense. Employee development is not simply about increasing productivity (though studies indicate that it does so), but also about keeping employees fulfilled and happy.

Employee development can be supported in a variety of ways. One of these is to provide regular reviews that check whether employees are being challenged, if they have enough work to do,...]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2017 22:01:20 +0100
Letting go of an employee can be one of the hardest things any employer can do, but if the reasons are justifiable, then it is a perfectly legal and acceptable course of action to take. With that in mind, terminating an employee is not a decision to be taken lightly when running a business; making a calculated judgment means taking into account the numerous potential costs that come with letting an employee go, as well as the potential legal ramifications. Businesses today often fear the possibility of a lawsuit when letting a worker go, and they can incur extra costs...]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2017 21:56:56 +0100 Organisational change is a common and, sometimes, necessary step for companies that wish to stay competitive in today’s business environment; factors such as globalisation and advancing technology mean that businesses need to make adaptive changes or risk falling behind. However, as companies continually try to implement organisational changes, they also need to take on the challenge to gain employee support and promote a positive attitude.

Almost every organisation has said ‘communication is key’ when winning over employees during organisational changes; sharing a clear goal for what management wants out of an organisation, and laying out the necessary steps that need...]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2017 21:48:15 +0100

Ask hiring managers about the main challenges facing businesses today, and the chances are they will mention recruitment. Technology has advanced to the point where digital is the transformative domain when it comes to recruiting talent. Automation, and the rise of sites such as LinkedIn and online job boards, has moved from being a supplementary to a traditional form of recruitment (such as newspaper ad space) to almost a total dominance of the recruitment industry. This change has brought with it a plethora of new HR recruitment software, to the point where it may be overwhelming to some businesses. Knowing...]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2017 21:35:29 +0100

Have you ever imagined industrial machines talking to one another or “smart” factories taking production and budget decisions without involving any human interaction?

You might still think that computers, the internet, and automation (Industry 3.0) will continue to be the remarkable trends of the future. But, in fact, they no longer resemble a technological breakthrough! Everything has changed since the term “Industry 4.0” was revived in the 2011 Hanover Fair in Germany.

Without human interaction, Industry 4.0 enables machines and cyber-physical systems in factories, for example, to communicate via the Internet of Services and cooperate with each other to make...]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2017 13:55:04 +0100

In order for organizations to stay competitive in a global economy, workers need to be educated, highly skilled and quickly adaptable to innovation trends. Such a workforce will help support current and future business and industry needs, while enhancing employment opportunities and quality of life.

Global researchers are focused on two aspects of optimization of the innovation in the workforce. One is the technical aspect, which refers to the process of innovation itself by developing and implementing the newest technology for strategic business objectives. The other aspect is focused on the optimization in the process of introducing and using this...]]> Thu, 02 Nov 2017 14:18:30 +0100

Branding is essential for every company in order to attract new partners, customers and/or candidates. Branding helps build strong and long-term relationships by increasing the brand awareness within the industry. Nowadays, companies try to recruit talents that they can benefit from, including at reduced cost of hire, and with effective results and positive recognition. In fact, there are specific practices of branding that employers can apply to effectively recruit talent.

According to a 2014 research from HR analyst Aptitude Research Partners, 1 in 4 companies are not confident about their employer branding. Employer branding consists of a combination of functional,...]]> Thu, 02 Nov 2017 14:10:41 +0100

With the rising competition due to globalization and the necessity to cut down costs in order to get a competitive advantage, a key to a successful business is the ability to find a balance between short-term and long-term employees. This might be essential for surviving, and at the same time, for satisfying employees’ needs.

Even though the Dutch economy is very stable and strong compared to other countries, companies have to be aware of possible changes in the market. Businesses have an obligation to their employees to take into consideration what would happen if a situation changes: can the company...]]> Thu, 02 Nov 2017 13:18:11 +0100

Learning and training are both concepts that are inextricably linked with each other, and they are both fundamental pillars of any educational process, whether it is in school or in industry. However, there are differences between the two, and distinguishing between them is not helped by the fact that the terms are often used interchangeably. Delineating what each one means is therefore vital in order to clarify exactly what types of activities and outcomes you want in your organization. What is certain is that, in increasingly complex organizations, every aspect of the educational process is necessary to ensure employees reach...]]> Thu, 02 Nov 2017 13:06:03 +0100

Gender equality continues to be a topic of discussion in organizations, scientific studies, and the media. The main areas of concern, especially in the Netherlands, are the low participation of women in full-time employment and their low presence in top executive positions, as well as the discrimination against ethnic minority women.

According to The Economist, fewer men in the Netherlands had to fight in the World Wars of the 20th century, and so Dutch women did not experience working for pay at the same frequency as women in other countries did. Moreover, Dutch politics back then was dominated by Christian...]]> Thu, 02 Nov 2017 11:53:06 +0100
  Severance packages come in many forms, and are handed out for many different reasons. These can include company-wide layoffs, elimination of a particular job title, retirement, or a mutual arrangement between employee and employer to part ways. In the EU, the regulation of severance pay is left at the discretion of the member states. In the Netherlands, employment law differs greatly from other legal systems, particularly regarding the position of the employee when it comes to dismissal. The result is that Dutch (or expat) employees are better protected in the Netherlands than in many other countries. Whatever the reason for...]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2017 15:14:27 +0200

The confinement of the modern workplace can be a limiting factor for employee fitness and health. Typical working days can trap employees behind a desk for around eight hours, thus leaving little time for daily exercise. Despite this challenge, it is a worthwhile goal for employers to keep their employees fit because of the potential benefits it provides. Japanese working culture has long embraced the value of keeping a fit and healthy workforce, even going as far as introducing compulsory ‘flab checks’ for employees over 40, and fining companies that fail to keep employees in good shape. This is not...]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2017 15:05:40 +0200

Methods that can successfully motivate employees to increase productivity and the quality of work are not always easy to come by. One method used by organisations is bonuses, which are awarded to highly achieving employees in the hopes that they will continue to produce well, or even improve further. Within the last few years, more organisations have begun relying on incentive pay to increase employee performance. What is more, some organisations implement full performance management systems. These systems help to determine just how big a bonus should be for high achieving employees, and they are usually used for continuous bonus...]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2017 12:05:33 +0200
Writing a compelling and informative job advertisement is key, not only for attracting top talent, but also for ensuring that any potential employees will be a good fit at a company. Job seekers can browse a seemingly unlimited list of vacancies, thanks to job search engines and online networking, meaning employers need to put in the extra effort to stand out. Not only is this helpful for potential candidates, it also helps employers to filter out candidates by specifying exactly what they are looking for in an employee.

As with CVs and cover letters, first impressions are crucial when creating...]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2017 11:53:26 +0200
All successful companies require good leaders. They provide the needed innovation and goal-setting mentality that helps companies have the edge in fast changing industries. Highly motivated and effective leaders help to raise productivity, command the respect and attention of their subordinates, and increase a company’s competitive advantage. It is therefore vital that a company hires the right people to fill these roles. Although it can be an arduous task, there are some tips that hiring managers can use to increase the chances of hiring good leaders.

Increasing the talent pool of an organization is a constant source of worry. A...]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2017 11:42:36 +0200

Creativity is often associated with artists, musicians, and scientists. It is rarely recognized as belonging to the sphere of everyday life or with work – like being tied to business and economics. However, when defined as the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, creativity can easily be applied to most aspects of our lives. There are three main reasons why people are motivated to be creative. The first one is the need for novel, varied, and complex stimulation. The second is the need to communicate ideas and values. And the...]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2017 10:40:10 +0200

Starting your own business gives a strong feeling of freedom and independence concerning the decisions you make; however, it may also have risks. It requires a lot of thinking through and it takes a lot of time. Start-up businesses tend to have a disadvantage statistically. According to the Entrepreneur, 55% of start-up businesses “tend to no longer be operational by the 5th year”. It goes to show that creating a business is but the first step, while sustaining and keeping it functional is a different step to overcome.

Businesses are no longer predictable as more of them appear, and as...]]> Thu, 03 Aug 2017 08:45:54 +0200
Happy staff members create happy customers, which lead to successful businesses. As leaders, we all know that. But how can turning management ‘upside down’ lead to positive change in an organisation?

Different Management Models

As organisations adapt to dynamic changes in business, society, and workforces, they are starting to move towards different management models. Where a couple of decades ago, the traditional top-down management style was the norm, future-orientated organisations are starting to look more seriously into a modern ‘upside down’ version of management, namely a bottom-up structure.

Concepts such as flat organisations, participative management, and employee engagement are all...]]> Mon, 04 Sep 2017 10:56:47 +0200

In recent years, the so-called ‘gig economy’ has grown from virtual insignificance into an important labour market. Such a market is largely characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts, or those involved in freelance work. In London, the gig economy has grown by a staggering 72% in the transport and storage sector since 2010. In an online survey of 2,125 Dutch adults aged between 16-70, 18% said that they have tried to find work managed via ‘sharing economy’ platforms. Well-known examples of companies that hire such freelance workers are Deliveroo, Uber or Blablacar, but there are many other firms jumping...]]> Mon, 04 Sep 2017 11:47:39 +0200
In the current unstable economic climate, company perks and benefits are not as plentiful as they once were. However, one of the benefits that employers seem keen to invest in is that of employee wellness programs. The recent trend has been towards a healthier working environment, with the aim of boosting employee morale, health and overall work performance. Wellness programs provide education and facilities, and offer incentives for employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle. They can also reduce the incidence of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease. But do the benefits of providing fitness programs outweigh the...]]> Mon, 04 Sep 2017 12:09:03 +0200

We now face global challenges such as inequality, climate change, increasing reliability on technology, and streams of refugees – to name a few. A look at the people responsible for creating situations leading to these problems shows that there is a lack of transparency and a lack of listening to the needs of others. Their focus is more on what is beneficial for themselves or their groups, rather than what would be beneficial for all or for the environment. Typical characteristics of such leaders can include egocentricity, competitiveness or authoritarianism. With such qualities, they often control everything in the direction...]]> Mon, 04 Sep 2017 12:50:42 +0200

The term organizational change often triggers fear in corporate hierarchies. In addition to dealing with the administrative issues and uncertainties that inevitably arise in corporate change, management also must make sure employees are fully on-board with the change. In many cases change provokes resistance. The reasons for this include a fondness for routine and predictability, and therefore a suspicion of anything that would upset them. Another reason could be job security, in which the uncertainty during a restructuring can have a demoralising effect on employees. So what is the best way to effect a change in employee mind-set?

The economic...]]> Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:31:52 +0200

‘Words are like eggs dropped from great heights; you can no more call them back than ignore the mess they leave when they fall’. – Jodi Picoult, Salem Falls.

It is said that a leader’s task is to persuade people to perform to the best of their ability so that they can work towards a common goal, be it on their own or as part of a team. And the tool leaders use to motivate their teams? Words.

Like smells, tastes, and music can conjure certain emotions in a heartbeat, words elicit immediate and powerful reactions. Smart leaders understand this...]]> Thu, 03 Aug 2017 09:04:36 +0200

Engaged employees are more likely to help each other, or stay voluntarily longer at work to finish an important project. Nevertheless, only 13% of employees are actively engaged, while the rest are actively disengaged, as a study of the Gallup Group shows.

In emphasizing the advantages of employee engagement, it becomes important to understand when employees are engaged and motivated to do their work. Current results show that employees want to feel appreciated, have transparency about on-going developments within the organisation, and have flexibility in managing their professional and private life. Moreover, they want to contribute to their work, understand...]]> Thu, 03 Aug 2017 09:00:16 +0200
Due to increasing globalisation, customer bases and workplaces are becoming ever more diverse, with the business world recognising the value of these differences. Diversity within a company can bring innumerable benefits when managed successfully, including financial gain, increased innovation and higher employee satisfaction.

Firstly, what does diversity actually mean? For many, the initial words to spring to mind are ethnicity and gender. However, diversity also covers many other aspects of human life, all of which bring a rich tapestry of experience to the workplace. These include (but are not limited to): sexual orientation, mental or physical abilities, parental status, age, educational...]]> Wed, 02 Aug 2017 17:03:41 +0200

Performance reviews form an integral part of working life; they are a traditional form of evaluating employee performance and they incentivise employees to work in accordance with a company’s standards. In theory, this is a very beneficial process to maximise the productivity of workers. However, some businesses are starting to move away performance reviews, regarding them as nothing more than an outdated formality with no real incentive for increased productivity. Typically, performance reviews are done every six months or annually; the problem is that they lack any real engagement with workers as they fail to provide any immediate informative feedback....]]> Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:42:46 +0200
The Primary school, the international department of the Prinseschool, follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) which provides an excellent foundation for international secondary education.

The Secondary school, the international department of Het Stedelijk Lyceum, follows the International Cambridge Secondary Curriculum.

Since 2013, students have been able to take exams in this curriculum for both the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and A Levels....]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2017 12:29:33 +0100 The Twente Branding Foundation is the service portal for the domains innovation and human capital in the fields of branding and corporate communication. Her mission is to brand Twente as an entrepreneurial high-tech region with a focus on High Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM). Twente distinguishes itself in the current economic development of the Netherlands as the entrepreneurial technological knowledge region. This profile will enable her to remain competitive and economically healthy.


1. Tell us a little about yourself and your function at Twente Branding.

My name is Karin Louwers and my function as an account manager is very broad....]]> Wed, 21 Dec 2016 11:28:36 +0100 Technological developments follow each other in rapid succession. As an organization you want to lead in these developments, and for that you need a talent. Those talents you have to keep engaged and intrested. And that is now more difficult to do. Unlike earlier times where employees stood in queue n front of your doors to be employed,nowadays you mustmake an effort to attract them in and then to keep them.

Three Interests in Balance

How can yourespond as an organization? Director Guido Heezen from Effectory identified three interests that must be well balanced. “In the first place is the...]]> Mon, 19 Dec 2016 13:23:58 +0100 When it comes to learning, children and teenagers often have a clear path cut out for them by an education system. For adults, determining in which way to learn new information and develop new skills can be less straightforward. This means that for companies and organizations, too, employee training and development can form a challenge. Educational opportunities for adults can have benefits for employees;it allows them to adjust their skills of development in their sector as they occur. This, in turn, allows individuals to give more positive contributions to the organizations that employ them.

In 2011, the European Centre for...]]> Mon, 04 Jul 2016 15:07:12 +0200
Subcontracting work is something that we often associate with large companies, maybe because they were the ones who popularized the concept throughout the 1990’s. However, business has changed since then, and technology has made outsourcing an accessible tool for small businesses and entrepreneurs. For some small firms it meant a steady boost for their productivity, growth and bottom lines.

Why Outsource?

You may have all the needed competencies in the house, or maybe you even have the talent to do it all by yourself. However, if you are forced to divide your attention among too many tasks, you might find...]]> Mon, 04 Jul 2016 15:49:00 +0200
How often did you start a work or project with a goal setting exercise? And how often did that result in fluent cooperation between team members towards a common and relevant goal?
In modern business work or projects, teams are created as a way to achieve a specific goal. HR managers and specialists have a central role in these teams, either as leaders, participants or facilitators. This article is about how we can increase the chance that teams will form that can work together and achieve their goals.

A Different Perspective

When work teams are formed, two things are surely...]]> Mon, 04 Jul 2016 15:33:21 +0200  

In the current job market, candidates do not have to run after every job opportunity anymore. Strong candidates usually have several options to choose from, and they can go for the easiest approach and accept the most appealing job on offer. It is more important than ever at times like these to engage with candidates and to keep them interested throughout the whole recruitment process, in order not to lose them to competitors.
But the first step is to attract their attention.Already a job description or the first line of approach on, for example, LinkedIn may be crucial to your...]]> Mon, 04 Jul 2016 15:10:49 +0200
Remember the care free days of childhood when the most stressful part of vacation was just the wait to get there? Thoughts of homework not finished or upset teachers never crossed your mind. Fast forward to present day where the days leading up to vacation have you feeling stressed and guilty. There is work left undone, someone else is taking over your responsibilities and there is no way they will do the same level of work as you. Taking vacation can almost be taboo at some companies, as if putting in 100-hourworkweeks makes for a better employee. Not the case!...]]> Mon, 04 Jul 2016 14:42:50 +0200
Positive reinforcement is"any pleasant or desirable consequences that follows a response and increases the possibility that the response will be repeated" (Wood& Boyd, 2005). This technique is used to stimulate and to strengthen new behaviors by offering rewards and incentives, as opposed to eliminating them.

Positive reinforcement thereby uses the reward system, which is a collection of brain structures attempting to monitor and control behavior by bringing about pleasurable effects. Rewards can be most useful in the workplace through monetary bonuses, promotions, praise, paid holiday leave, and simple attention. Giving rewards, by themselves, to employees may not result in the...]]> Mon, 04 Jul 2016 14:17:38 +0200

That is the same as the principle of gap analysis for businesses. Gap analysis is not strictly business-related though; it is rather a universally applicable technique typically used to evaluate, develop and improve any form of output. For example, a company may be looking to sell 10% more units than they did in the previous year, or a service company may use gap analysis to compare the standard of service they provide, to the standard of service they expected to provide customers with.

It is a tool that many people use subconsciously when faced with a problem that needs to...]]> Sun, 01 May 2016 20:08:11 +0200 Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

Employee activity can generally be monitored in two ways: directly—meaning in the office, or online—by means of their social media or Internet activity. Monitoring an employee in person should be done with the aim of determining whether that employee is using their time efficiently, often absent at their desk, or distracted by other online activities. An employer or organization can also monitor whether employees are using social media prudently, and not sharing information about the company that they should not be sharing.

Every organization carries the responsibility to determine how important they find it to be...]]> Sun, 01 May 2016 16:08:43 +0200
Generation Y, also known as Echo Boomers or Millenniums, are the second biggest population in the labour market at this moment. Most commonly defined as: the group born between the 1980s to the early 1990s that follow generation X, which is currently the biggest population in the labour market. Each year more Millenniums are entering the labour market, and even more of them have already been gaining valuable work experience, all of which undeniably establishes the big issue of trying to get to know them, and see what Generation Y brings to the business table.

The incentives and motives that...]]> Sun, 01 May 2016 15:59:41 +0200
What makes a good interviewer? Are you one of them? By regular reflection of one’s own behavior, it is possible to constantly improve oneself. Some insights into what in general is considered to make recruiters successful at interviewing might help to give some food for thought.
It might seem easy to interview someone for a job—asking a few questions, listening, taking notes, etc. But good recruiters will know that interviewing is, in fact, much more complex than this.

Asking Questions
Obviously, asking questions is crucial for interviews. However, they fall under a wide range, from poor questions to extremely valuable...]]> Sun, 01 May 2016 15:46:19 +0200
Campbell’s Soup CEO—Doug Conant—said that in order to “win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace”. As a manager or supervisor, you not only have the responsibility of making sure the customers are satisfied, but you also have the responsibility of making sure your very own employees are as well. This means that you, as a manager, should know the how’s and why’s in connecting with the two different groups of people. Understanding the different things your employees go through can be a beneficial step in creating a stronger, inner business relationship between people.

The first thing...]]> Sun, 01 May 2016 15:40:20 +0200
When a friend asks you what you think about his new tie, you might compliment him because it really is a fancy looking tie. Other times, you may complement him even though you know that the tie is not that great. The constant dilemma of “should I say it?” tends to appear quite so often in situations like these. Dutch management consultant, organizational theorist and author Fons Trompenaars said: “I try to avoid asking a Dutch audience for criticism after my workshops; the experience is much the same as being machine-gunned.”

It is a known fact that most Dutch people...]]> Sun, 01 May 2016 15:30:49 +0200 Job seekers find it very difficult to decide on the basis of a job description if the position is a good match with the skills, experience and wishes. According to research by Unique. Working conditions within the company is what attracts the potential and makes a job seeker what to apply.

However the Job texts are not always very clear. 53% of the job-seeker respondents report having difficulties knowing after having reviewed the job description if this job offer is a match to him or her. When referring to give social media (70%) of Jjbseekers give preference to Linked. In...]]> Tue, 05 Apr 2016 16:15:24 +0200 Workers now have less energy than two years ago. This has been caused by increased pressure, feeling the need to work harder, and the performance bar being raised.

There's a growing group of employees that are increasingly under pressure. These people, some 40 percent of the workers, are mainly engaged in meeting short-term goals and solving immediate problems. Self-interest goes beyond cooperation and tensions and frustrations regularly flare up. The number of employees that feel 'laid back' in their work, has now declined, probably due tov the increasing pressure from an improving economy and the threat of mass layoffs.

Productivity...]]> Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:30:33 +0100 Highly educated, but unemployed people of indigenous descent will find a new job more quickly than immigrants with a non-western background and the same level of education.
Figures from the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) show that there is significant differences between population groups.

“Around 20.2 percent of all people who were low-skilled, and from a non-Western origin were unemployed last year, compared with 9.2 percent of the natives of this level,” concludes the statistics office.

Among highly educated people, unemployment figures are much lower. About 3.4 percent of the indigenous population with a high education level went without work...]]> Fri, 04 Mar 2016 09:45:08 +0100 Asscher, the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, wants to replaced the current training and development funds with individual training rights and duties for all. This would be for freelancers, fixed, and flexible workers, and should make it easier for them to engage in retraining or further training.

It is important for employers to focus on additional training, because there are many changes happening in the labour market through digitisation. It is often the case that training fundsn are only used within their own sector. According to Asscher, this approach is too old-fashioned. “Take the dramatic resignation of 8 thousand...]]> Mon, 29 Feb 2016 09:42:13 +0100 We all know that working online is not completely safe, yet companies often dig their heads in the sand. Employee phones represent a weak link in data protection, but these are not always acted against, even though being hacked can often cost a business thousands of euros per case.
Mobile devices of employees constitute a threat to the security of corporate data.

The workers' mobile phones have become a source of many data leaks. Yet businesses often lag behind in securing mobile phones. Only 36 percent of respondents in the survey resaearching the 'Economic Risk of Confidential Data on Mobile...]]> Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:22:19 +0100 Almost every winter, there is a flu epidemic in the Netherlands. As an employer, how do you prevent a spreading epidemic in the workplace? Here are six tips for a flu-free workplace!

The Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (National institute for Public Health and the Environment, RIVM) gave a warning that there is a flu epidemic in the Netherlands in the first week of February. There were 120 people in every people with flu-like symptoms reported by GPs. After more than 51 people show symptoms of an illness, it is officially labeled as an epidemic.

Obviously, employers want to ensure...]]> Fri, 19 Feb 2016 12:32:05 +0100 The counting of calories and steps is already quite a common pactice, and helps to improve personal health. However, this is not a generally accepted rule of thumb in business. Often, this is in reference to privacy breaches and unauthorised interference by the employer. In business, we are still lagging behind.

Michael Schrage argues for precisely measuring the activities of employees, so that they can improve. This isn't a question of post-industrial intrusiveness, but a necessity for professional self-preservation and improvement, says Schrage. It's not a matter of 'Big Brother', but coaching based on data.

Competing with computers
Knowledge workers...]]> Mon, 15 Feb 2016 10:14:36 +0100 Despite the importance of education in remaining employable in the rapidly changing labour market, the vast majority of workers have not been given training by their employer, over the past three year. This is not only concern for employability but also for the growing mismatch in the labour market.

Recent research by Intelligence Group shows that only one in five workers has been trained the past three years and obtained a certificate. The group that chooses to train, choose for programs that make them more valuable for their present work. Programs that focus on knowledge and skills that improve job...]]> Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:37:43 +0100 In 2014, one third of employees in the public service sector had to deal with violence and aggression. The government will continue efforts to reduce aggression and violence against public servants, as Minister Plasterk of the Interior stated.

While working in public tasks, suffering from aggression and violence is not just annoying for these employees. “It provides a significant cost for society,” says Plasterk.

Victims of aggression and violence are more prone to health problems, fail more often, and are less satisfied with their work and working conditions.

healthcare
The healthcare sector is where most employees have to deal with...]]> Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:44:38 +0100 In 2014, of all the accidents that happened in the workplace that led to an absence of four days or more, falling over was the most common. As well as this, other leading causes of injury (threatening, biting, kicking) were often neglected by workplace management.

This emerges from a survey conducted by CBS, which shows 3.4 percent of employees having had one or more accidents in 2014. That amounts to about 240 thousand workers. Almost 88 thousand of these accidents followed an absence of at least four days.

Failure by injury
The injuries were, in most cases, physical. In nearly 30 percent of...]]> Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:27:25 +0100 Employers have little regard for complaints of menopausal women. The European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) has therefore made recommendations on how companies can deal with it.

As more women participate in the workforce and also work longer, symptoms of menopause at work are coming up more often. Employers should take this into account in determining their working conditions so that they avoid worsening symptoms.

Menopause

Women go through menopause usually when they are between 45 and 55 years when they stop menstruating. This can cause symptoms such as insomnia and mood swings, though not every woman in menopause are...]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2016 17:36:17 +0100 The so-called Declaration of independent employment relationship (Verklaring Arbeidsrelatie, VAR) seems to have had its day. The Senate drew a majority which supports a repeal of the VAR on 1 May, 2016.

The VAR is intended to clarify whether companies must embody freelancers and pay payroll tax on their income. Secretary of State Eric Wiebes (Finance) wanted some time off from the VAR, but he ran into opposition in the Senate. He made a series of commitments. There will be a long transition period of one year.

The intension is that the VAR will be replaced by standard contracts. Those...]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2016 18:05:09 +0100 Recently, a bill to the Lower House has been discussed in order to strengthen the position of prevention officers. These employees hold the legal right to consult with occupational health services and the company.

The bill also changes the role of the employer in respect of absence. Often the employer leaves the absenteeism of the company to prevention officers, where as this is actually the role of the employer. The occupational health services holds only an advisory role from here on. In addition, employees are given the opportunity to approach the company themselves, so that the issues of absenteeism could be...]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2016 18:08:51 +0100 It was announced that a total of over 1.35 million people are working as freelancers in The Netherlands. This is a significant increase when compared to 2014, where 324 thousand worked as freelancers out of more than 6.1 million employees. Under this arrangement, they earned an average of nearly 4,500 euros.
For over 553 thousand people in The Netherland, the income they gain from freelancing is taking more of a sideline when looking at the total distribution of their income. Most self-employed personnel find the bulk of their income consists of wages, pension or allowance. 


Slightly more than 137 thousand of the nearly three million retirees in The Netherlands punctuated...]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2016 18:00:05 +0100 PostNL has signed a definitive agreement on the working conditions of postal workers.
The members of the relevant trade unions have agreed on the principle agreement reached in December, the postal company announced Wednesday.

In the collective agreement, there are agreements on a wage increase. The deliverers will, as of 1 January, earn 0.9 percent more and as of July 1, they will receive a further 0.5 percent. In January and July 2017 there will be two salary increases also with 0.9 and 0.5 percent respectively.

Mail deliverers will henceforth receive an expense allowance ranging from 70 to 105 euros...]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2016 17:56:47 +0100 Employees and employers have a different view about development of self-direction within the workspace. Employees say they are ready for greater self-direction, while employers argue that employees are not. This appears from the annual HR Benchmark survey of Raet, which includes the results of over 1700 respondents (employees, HR managers and directors) from various sectors.

Own direction

The Dutch employee wants more and more control over their own development. A whopping 75 percent consider it important to have self-direction on a personal development program. But only half (45 percent) experienced enough space and freedom to take this direction in practice....]]> Sun, 24 Jan 2016 18:41:54 +0100 In this particular case, the employee wanted to terminate their employment contract while being granted a transitional allowance and an additional fair compensation because of seriously culpable conduct by the employer.

The case

The 63-year-old worker has been a notarial assistant employed by a notary office since 1993. From the moment the worker was affected by a partial disability, meaning they had to work fewer hours, the employer began to act inappropriatly and in an unacceptable manner towards her. This behaviour consisted of unacceptable language, swearing, cursing, ranting, and statements such as 'I'll harass you out of this job,' 'Hey,...]]> Sun, 24 Jan 2016 18:36:56 +0100 Organisations are not always supportive of the use of analytics. Some managers think very highly of their knowledge, and believe that experience cannot be learnt from analytics. Others simply do not accept what young analysts tell them, and avoid supporting their decisions by data.

Dealing with political sensitivity

Politics plays a big role in many organisations. Analytics cannot be used as a basis for decision-making without the political sensitivities around it being brought under control, says consultant David Creelman.

4 ways to make managers accept evidence-based HR

Involvement
Managers want to be in control of their surroundings, and do not appriciate...]]> Fri, 22 Jan 2016 09:27:19 +0100 Every organisation has to deal with it: absenteeism. It's a costly problem is fixed. But how do you get more insight into the core reasons of absence? Failure Experts Merel van Etten and Martijn ten Bokum of HR company Arbobutler had this to say on the psychology behind absenteeism.

What is the role of an absenteeism coordinator?

Merel: “We call it an 'active power specialist'. We are not so much focused on absenteeism, but more towards the working ability of employees. We are a partner for both employers and employees when it comes to usability issues.”
Martijn: “Suppose an employee...]]> Wed, 20 Jan 2016 07:10:46 +0100 It is often thought that checking or updating social media, and browsing the Internet are the main distractions in a workspace. However, it appears that the more traditional activities of fetching a glass of water, going to the toilet, or chatting with a colleague cost of the most for employees trying to skiving off work.

Research

The HR service Bamboo has undertaken a research study looking at more than a thousand Americans, examining what activities are the most time consuming and distracting for employees. As it turns out, the most distracting activities are not necessarily all the various digital activities....]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2016 08:41:03 +0100 There has never been a single best way to recruit new members into a company or organisation. Most companies follow the same basic set of rules. However, one start-up has decided to try a different method. This company is Automattic, ran by Matt Mullenweg, the creator of WordPress. Automattic employs around 4 hundred people. While they do have a headquarters, almost all of their employees work from home. When they get accepted for their position within the company, they're given 2.5 thousand dollars to buy themselves the much needed technology to develop for their business. If this is not enough of...]]> Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:10:30 +0100 In this day and age, we communicate very differently. There is, in fact, a very stark difference between the generations, which is often seen on text chat. However, to what extent are communications, such as emoticons, emojis and GIF's used in the workplace? Is that reserved for hip startups?

According to Dr. Sian Towson, it really depends on who you ask. Employees who are older than 35 years show the need for the use of emoticons, such as the simple smiley face, but not emojis, which consist of several characters. Millennials, however, show their emotions and tend to express themselves...]]> Fri, 08 Jan 2016 13:32:47 +0100 Something as simple as getting a bag of sweets is already sufficient to stimulate the memory. Indeed, anything which tickles your funny bone also ensures an improvement on memory and makes decision-making smoother.

One study has demonstrated this effect on older adults for the first time. Professor Ellen Peters, who co-conducted the study on this: “There have been many studies showing that young adults are more creative and have greater cognitive flexibility if they are in a good mood. However, the cognitive decline as a result of ageing meant that scientists were not sure whether this effect also applies to...]]> Fri, 08 Jan 2016 13:14:18 +0100 The engagement of employees in their work appears to be receding, according to research made by Gallup. In 2013, 30% of employees involved themselves to a high degree in their worklife. Despite several efforts to increase involvement, the percentage of employees involved remain virtually unchanged.

Why is this the case? Dr. Jim Harter, a specialist in the field of engagement, has tried to provide answers.

Why is involvement important?

A company having more engaged employees holds several advantages, says Harter. “From lower absenteeism and better development, to increased productivity and improved service delivery. It directly affects the output of an...]]> Fri, 08 Jan 2016 13:06:17 +0100 Since the financial crisis of 2008, labour productivity per employee has increased, while wages have not risen. According to the CBS, the reason for this would be that there are higher numbers of unemployed personel after 2008, and that there are more and more flexible workers.

CBS has done research on labour productivity per employee after the outbreak of the crisis and compared it to the salary that an employee receives since 2008. Until 2008, there is a strong growth in labour productivity. When the crisis erupted in 2008, this productivity was reduced due to insufficient demand for new staff....]]> Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:15:19 +0100 People on welfare who get help, with job application training for example, are more likely to find work, according to research by the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (central bureau for statistics, CBS).

Of aid recipients that could make use of the so-called reintegration facility last year, more than 22 percent are employed. Of beneficiaries who received no such assistance, only 8 percent are now back to work.

Municipalities decide whether someone gets the chance to use the rehabilitation facility. The criteria vary throughout The Netherlands. It is not just about job training, but also schemes where the track is...]]> Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:06:17 +0100 Dutch people aged over sixteen years are most fortunate in the European Union (EU). More than 80 percent report that they always or almost always felt happy over the last four weeks.
This comes from a study published Monday by the CBS and the European statistics agency Eurostat.

The Dutch are the most satisfied with their personal relationships, their homes, the environment and how their time is spent. However, they have the least satisfaction about their financial situation. The Finns and the Irish also scored highly in the survey. On average, one in six people in the EU are almost...]]> Mon, 04 Jan 2016 15:48:57 +0100 The term 'groupthink' tends to have a negative connotation. Team Thinking, however, is something positive. Leadership Expert Kevin Eikenberry explains the difference between group thinking and team thinking and shows how to avoid groupthink.

Groupthink

The concept of groupthink was introduced in the 70s in a book by Yale professor Irving Janis. Wikipedia gives the following definition: "Groupthink is a psychosocial phenomenon, in which a group of very skilled people so influenced by group, the quality diminishes group acts It occurs when group members pay attention primarily on maintaining consensus and unanimity when. decision-making process instead of a critical consideration...]]> Mon, 04 Jan 2016 15:44:17 +0100 Confidence in the Dutch pension and health care system has been badly dented by seniors. This came from a statement made by the elderly union ANBO, after a survey among 1,200 elderly.
Over 70 percent of respondents advised young people to save for their own healthcare services. Similarly, more than 40 percent agreed that young people need to build up their own retirement fund rather than through an employer or the pension fund.

“The respondents are aware of the fact that they have to regulate themselves more and more. They seem to want to advise young people thus: “take matters...]]> Fri, 01 Jan 2016 17:28:44 +0100 Unethical behaviour in the workplace costs millions every year. Theft, fraud, and corruption are the main sources of unethical workplace behaviour, and therefore it is logical to want to avoid it happening as much as possible. How do you ensure that your employees do not run off with the organisation of the money?

If they are visible, people behave better

When employees behave immorally, it not only costs money. If fraud or embezzlement commonly occur, it can lead to a lack of confidence and negative social norms within the company. This can create a snowball effect whereby unethical behaviour worsens....]]> Sat, 26 Dec 2015 17:57:39 +0100 Through the Ondernemingsraad (work councils, OR) employees have more influence on their pension scheme. The OR management will be entitled to disagree or agree with a change of a pension plan.

As it stands now, the OR of a company pension fund can only consent if the employer intends to establish a pension plan or withdraw, but not if the employer wishes to change the pension scheme. Secretary Klijnsma has sent a bill to the House of Representatives on this subject.

Secretary Klijnsma: 'Employers and employees are jointly responsible for the content of the conditions of employment retirement. It is,...]]> Sat, 26 Dec 2015 18:49:51 +0100 A number of new laws will come into effect on January 1, 2016. The following laws are those which will be relevant for human resources.

Wet flexibel werken (Flexible work law, WFW)

This new law will replace the Wet aanpassing arbeidsduur (Working Hours Amendment Act, WAA). The law should give employees more flexible working opportunities for teleworking and to work at more favourable times. Employees can submit a request to adjust their working hours to suit their work, such as working at home. In addition, employees can request to modify their contractual working hours.

Wet aanpak schijnconstructies (Law on approaching...]]> Sat, 26 Dec 2015 18:37:34 +0100 The next generation that will enter the labour market is ready. This is the so-called 'Generation Z'. This group includes those aged between 0 and 20 years. In The Netherlands, this includes more than 3.8 million people. Of these, more than 800 thousand by October 2015 between 16 and 20 years old have begun within the market.

Generation Features

This is the first generation that has immediately faced from birth to the Internet, wifi and smartphones. The first generation that is always online and regulates everything online. These are digital natives. What continues to make this generation stand out is...]]> Sat, 26 Dec 2015 17:52:44 +0100 Lately, many have come to the assumption that their has been a decrease in the number of jobs available due to increased automation and robotics. According to McKinsey, however, these jobs do not disappear. Rather, functions and tasks of jobs are now functioning differently.

The McKinsey consultants Michael Chui, James Manyika, and Mehdi Miremadi have argued that robotics and artificial intelligence are omnipresent. For example, if you take a plane from an airport, the commercial pilot flies an average of seven minutes. The rest of the time the aircraft is managed by the autopilot.

Will robotics lead to an increase...]]> Sun, 20 Dec 2015 18:18:46 +0100 Do you want employees that are more motivated and more involved? A simple way to do this is to give them more autonomy.

This means that your employees will be given more space to make their own decisions, to think for themselves about the design of their own function. Employees must think and act as independenst, says consultant David Lee. He cites a study made by Daniel Pink in his book 'Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Really Motivates Us'.

More autonomy = Faster growth + Higher retention

In this study, conducted by Cornell University, half of the 320 companies...]]> Wed, 23 Dec 2015 22:17:55 +0100 New research from Bain & Company, in cooperation with the Economist Intelligence Unit, highlighted the importance of inspiration for employees. Inspired employees are more than two times as productive as just satisfied employees.

The needs of employees can be displayed according to Maslow's pyramid. First, certain basic needs such as safe working conditions and the availability of the appropriate tools, need to be fulfilled. This produces satisfied employees. Then comes the need for autonomy and taking part of a fun and effective team. This provides a situation to involve your employees to a higher degree.

Employees who, thorugh this, can...]]> Sun, 20 Dec 2015 18:12:23 +0100 In November, more businesses have started compared to over a year earlier, mainly in business services. More entrepreneurs have also stopped, while the total number of bankruptcies have declined.

This comes from figures published by the Chamber of Commerce.

Last month, more than fourteen thousand start-ups were begun, 4 percent more than in October last year. In 60 percent of cases, they were self-employed, while Small-to-medium entreprenuers grew to nearly sixteen establishments.

However, this was not the case for places such as Groningen and Overijssel, at odds with the national trend. These two places saw a decrease in the number of...]]> Sat, 05 Dec 2015 16:40:17 +0100

New income requirements for residence as a highly skilled migrant

The new income requirements for highly skilled migrants and holders of a European Blue Card have been announced. As of 1 January 2016, the following amounts apply for these purposes of stay.


Type of highly skilled migrant and Amount per month, excl. holiday allowance as of 1-1-2016

Highly skilled migrant older than 30 years:€ 4.240

Highly skilled migrant younger than 30 years :€3.108

Highly skilled migrant subsequent to graduation or after job-seeking year for graduates/highly educated persons: €2.228

Holder European Blue Card: €4.968


Income requirements for other purposes of stay
The income requirements for admission...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2015 16:36:44 +0100 The government wants to the NGO Sociaal Economische Raad (Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands, SER) to include advice on the flexible deployment of people within organisations this coming year. In addition, it is important for the government to know what gives this flexibility and the consequences this may carry with them.

The government not only wants to submit a request for advice on flexibility but also on practical learning in secondary vocational education, social enterprises, and people from the labour market, in terms of the effects of regulations on the scale and growth of businesses.

The Cabinet has...]]> Sat, 05 Dec 2015 16:28:51 +0100 About 66 thousand youths are not in employment, while also not in education. These young people are not even on the radar of the municipalities and the UWV for counseling. The government wants these invisible youths to either continue education, or to enter employment. Municipalities must therefore work alongside the young people, schools, UWV and employers to work around this problem.

This notes Asscher, Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, on the behalf of Bussemakerhuis, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science in a letter to parliament.
Asscher: "We must ensure that these young people remain involved in our society,...]]> Sat, 05 Dec 2015 15:41:20 +0100 Refugees with a residence permit should join our society as soon as possible. Learning the Dutch language and values, and finding employment are crucial. Therefore, refugees may stay here earlier and receive more language courses. They are also screened directly to get a picture of their qualifications, work experience and language skills. A participation certificate is a compulsory part of the integration. Minister Asscher of Social Affairs and Employment writes in a letter to the Lower House on the integration and participation of refugees. The letter is an elaboration of the administrative agreement that the government signed with the municipalities...]]> Sat, 05 Dec 2015 16:06:55 +0100 Since the economic crisis, companies are paying less tax and individual taxpayers are footing the rest of the bill. This was reported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) based on its own research.

According to the think tank, the average tax payments made by companies have decreased between 2007 and 2014 from 3.6 percent to 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). On the other hand, the proceeds from income taxes from citizens have increased from 8.8 to 8.9 percent, and VAT revenues increased from 6.5 to 6.8 percent.

''Companies continue to find ways to pay less, while...]]> Sat, 05 Dec 2015 15:57:58 +0100 The Internet plays an increasingly important role in finding a job. According to research by 'Intelligence Group', 53 percent of job seekers orient through job boards (where LinkedIn is also grouped) and social media as being a major source for job searching orientation. In the United States, this is no different. According to recent research by the Pew Research Center, 54 percent of job seekers use the Internet in finding a job. Almost half (45 percent) also applied online. Youngsters massively use their mobile phones to orient themselves in the labour market and to apply.

Smartphones

Of all Americans who...]]> Sat, 05 Dec 2015 15:51:33 +0100 With the winter holidays right around the corner, the staff planning for Small-to-medium entrepreneurs is quite stretched. This is particularly true in the hospitality and retail businesses, where extra hands could be used because of the season. However, they are not always aware of the risks that hiring extra personnel can entail.

Unexpected risks of hiring additional staff are:

Employees make too many hours: Working regulations dictate the maximum working hours and minimum rest periods for employees. For example, an employee may only work forty Sundays per year, unless more Sundays are laid down in a collective scheme and at...]]> Sat, 05 Dec 2015 16:22:46 +0100 The implementation of the participation Act has been adjusted in certain parts. State Secretary Jetta Klijnsma of Social Affairs and Employment reached an agreement with the Association of Dutch Municipalities, social partners, and the UWV.

Former students who come from secondary special education without review by the UWV are to be admitted directly to the target group for new jobs that will become available for people with an occupational disability. There will also be a simpler design of salary valuation in the workplace, especially where employers and municipalities have urged. These measures make it easier for people who do not...]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2015 19:54:07 +0100 Flexible working hours are the main benefit for Dutch employees, according to the research firm Intelligence Group. The 6800 respondents were divided into five categories: male, female, employed, student and unemployed. Those in the categories women and students found that flexible working hours were a key precondition of employment, while men were more interested in pension schemes, and the unemployed more interested in travel allowances.

"Men go for money, women for flexible working hours and reconciling work and private life," the researchers said. The over all results show a marked drop in the importance of travel allowances and pension scheme...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2015 20:44:43 +0100 People like to think that they have a good intuition. However, when it comes to selecting employees, they do no better than a computer. Often, recruiters will select worse candidates than the predictions of algorithms, as a new study by the US National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) shows.

Primary and secondary graduates

The NBER relies on 300 thousand candidates adopted by fifteen companies. These candidates all work as lower and middle-skilled workers, such as being employed in data entry or call center work. NBER-investigators compared the time someone remained in service after this was adopted by a human being...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2015 20:35:34 +0100 Around April 2016, it is expected that the Whistleblowers Act will come into force. All employers who have at least fifty persons, will be legally obliged to have an internal reporting scheme for whistleblowers.

In recent years, there have been many cases where whistleblowing leads to a great deal of publicity of the workers faced through the work of doing wrong in the eyes of the public interest. Often they were in trouble because they brought out the abuse made by companies. This prompted the House of Representatives to come to an agreement on a new act for whistleblowers, which...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2015 20:30:03 +0100 The majority of employers and employees, around 60 percent, are not aware of the rules surrounding employment medical examinations. This is a medical examination which takes place at the end of a job application. This inspection is in fact granted only in exceptional cases.

Such an exceptional case, if the test is permitted, for example, occurs when a function has certain risks to the health or safety of employees and the environment. This is established in the Wet op de medische keuringen (Law on Medical Examinations, WMK)

Research undertaken by the Commissie Klachtenbehandeling Aanstellingskeuringen (Complaints Committee Appointment Examinations, CKA) has...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2015 20:26:29 +0100 A new report from ADP showed that job-hopping pays off, at least in the United States,. ADP has done research among US workers in relation to wage developments for the third quarter of 2015. For employees in the same job, working for the same employer as last year, wages rose 3.5 percent. For Employees who switched employers, their pay rise increased by 6.5 percent.

However, this largely depends on the sector in which employees work. In the education and health care sectors, employees changing jobs only saw a 0.4 percent increase in their salary. In construction, job hoppers went ahead...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2015 19:59:58 +0100 Professionals with a flexible form of employment are more positive about their work than colleagues employed on a strict work schedule. This has been suggested by Yacht, who researched this topic. Professionals who work on a flexible basis have the feeling that they are being challenged, and are positive about their networking opportunities. They also find that they can add more value to their field:

Among permanent staff, fifty eight percent think that it is sufficiently challenged in his work, among persioners this applies to sixty four percent. When asked if someone feels they can add value to their field,...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2015 19:52:59 +0100 The World Economic Forum (WEF) publishes the Global Gender Gap Index. The Global Gender Gap Index provides insight into the disparity between men and women for more than ninety percent of the world population. The Netherlands rises this year from fourteenth to thirteenth place.

The inequality between men and women over the past ten years decreased by 4 percent. Women now earn about what men earned in 2006. If we continue at this slow pace the WEF is expecting the gap to close entirely in about 118 years. This means that by the year 2133, the disparity between men and...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2015 19:48:56 +0100 The trade union Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (Dutch Federation of Trade Unions, FNV) wants to experiment with anonymous job applications to combat discrimination in the labour market. This comes from a statement made by FNV director Gijs van Dijk.

He wants to not only to combat age discrimination, but also hopes to put an end to the problems that are common in Dutch recruitment with different background experience when applying.

"With anonymous job applications, everyone can be given a fair and equal chance in the labour market," said Van Dijk.

The FNV spoke last Thursday along with other social partners, experts...]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2015 11:38:38 +0100 Despite the growing economy, continued investment in technological innovation in The Netherlands has decreased. The positive of this is that companies have begun to pay more attention to social innovation. This enables a better return on investment. The success rate of technological innovation is largely determined by 'soft' social innovation.

This is evident from the research presented on Thursday by the Erasmus Competition and Innovation Monitor 2014-2015, which annually assesses the state of Dutch innovation. The amount of new products and services has surged by 3.5 percent and the amount of improved products and services increased by 5.2 percent. However,...]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2015 11:15:16 +0100 Nearly 150 thousand people have already benefited from special assistance programs from the government, employers, and employee organisations.

Approximately 19 thousand people have been helped to find work, including 17 thousand apprenticeships. This shows a balance between the so-called sector plans, which aim to improve the labour market. Minister Lodewijk Asscher (Social Affairs and Employment) announced these results last Tuesday.

Around 86 thousand employees have been converted or retrained to continue work since mid last year. 12 thousand employees received support in finding another job.

More than 27 thousand employees are helping to create more healthy work environments. They work in sectors...]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2015 10:38:06 +0100 Those who are looking for a job in the HR sector probably will find more options, more easily. In the third quarter of 2015, the demand for employees in the HR field rose again. Compared to the third quarter of 2014, the number of vacancies increased by 33 percent, according to research undertaken by Yacht.

The increase in vacancies in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014 is the highest for the recruitment sector, with a 68 percent increase. According to the research, large companies need more personnel, which means more recruiters are needed.

Ellen...]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2015 10:33:05 +0100 Labour Lawyer Maarten van Gelderen has watched the first fifty dismissal rulings by the Wet werk en zekerheid (work and security act, WWZ). His observations have confirmed that ithas now become more difficult to fire an employee after July 1.

About 40 percent of all dismissal requests are rejected by the court. That means that the majority are allocated and go through unhindered. However, before 1 July the acceptance rate was still between 70 and 90 percent. This highlights an essential difference in the ruling and its effect on the legal proceedings. Judges have become more critical, where they require...]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2015 10:49:24 +0100 About 14 percent of Dutch employees had symptoms relating to burn out in 2014. According to figures from the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (Central Bureau for statistics, CBS) examples of these complaints can range from being exhausted at the end of the workday to being emotionally exhausted.

The study shows that the education sector has had the most complaints of employees suffering from burn out. In this sector, many employees have given complaints of burn out due to the high workload and the high degree of emotional involvement in their work. In second and third place are the information...]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2015 10:16:24 +0100 Living a healthier life is still the best way to reduce your stress levels, say Ernst Lutgert and Serge van Amstel, occupational and health psychologist at Arbo Unie. "When people move towards a healthy life, their capacity and resilience are directly affected. Also, the productivity of workers go up by an average of 10 to 15 percent."

Good food and drink, plenty of exercise and sleep, alternating tension and relaxation are the best remedy for stress. How simple can it be? It is always advisable to allow employees the opportunities and support for a healthier work and life style. At...]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2015 10:11:51 +0100 In The Netherlands, often the average hours worked per week is higher than the global average. Most Dutch workaholics work eight to twelve hours a week extra. This equates to an additional workday per week, according to research undertaken by Regus.

The average number of hours worked overtime is at seven hours per week globally, in which the most overtime in on Monday. In the Netherlands, 26 percent of employees work overtime on Tuesday or Thursday. On Friday, the least extra hours are made.

In The Netherlands we're used to working over these limits. Only 13 percent of respondents work...]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:17:00 +0100 According to research, the vitality of Dutch employees is low, 29 percent scored even low to very low. Only 12 percent of the respondents scored highly, according to research by Schouten & Nelissen. In total, 57 percent of employees experience lower vitality due to an excessive workload. This group is also 3.5 times as likely to get sick.

Having a higher vitality in your life makes you feel more energetic, and also means you're having fun by taking part in your work. If you are feeling particularly vital, you perform better, and also make a better impression. And this does not only happen at the time, but for a longer period of time.

Jessica van Wingerden,...]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2015 14:15:48 +0100 Not all employees are honest with their boss when it comes to applying for a new job with another employer. The vast majority, 70 percent, who hold a job prefer to keep it a secret from his or her current employer. In addition, 56 percent of respondents also respond to a job when they are not immediately looking for another job.

The research was conducted by PanelWizard on behalf of Monsterboard, and looked at more than 500 working employees. It showed that 55 percent of respondents pick any day for an interview to take place. However, only 7 percent used...]]> Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:51:08 +0100 As the new Participatiewet (Participation Act) has come into effect, it must also be applied to the governement, said State Secretary Jetta Kleinsma. Therefore, the government must have created 25 thousand workplaces within the next ten years. If this fails, then there would be no choice but to fine the government, according to Kleinsma.

The Participatiewet came into effect on January 1, 2015. The aim of the law is to help people with or without disabilities who are searching for a job find employment. While there are many different ways this can be achieved, the primary course of action is...]]> Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:43:07 +0100 In order to prevent discrimination in the recruitment of personnel, it has long been a consideration to remove birth dates and names from CVs in The Netherlands. Although this has not yet happened within The Netherlands, this is already something more concrete in England, as more and more companies hide the names of candidates in order to avoid discrimination and to build a more diverse workforce.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron recently announced that universities should remove the names of students on registration forms to avoid unconscious discrimination against minorities from 2017. He also called on employers to follow this...]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2015 13:50:48 +0100 Making a good introduction is very important for new employees, as we now know. It's also important for an employer to make a good introduction. However, properly analysing how to improve the productivity of new employees as an employer is difficult to measure. Google has done this well and other organisations can learn from this.

The analytics team at Google has set up several experiments to measure the factors that contribute to the productivity of new employees. What they have found is that it making a productive new employee comes from both sides, the employer and the employee.

Sending an...]]> Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:33:56 +0100 Not all employers are providing the necessary maintenance for the knowledge bases of their employees. Only 31 percent of Dutch employees on permanent contracts have been offered the opportunity to take paid training by their employer. For temporary workers, this is 26 percent.

Employers should not only look at the permanent staff, but also towards their temporary staff. This would save additional reaction time and coordination costs between regular and temporary workers. In addition to this, these employees provide fresh ideas to the company, allowing it to conceptually expand. For temporary workers there are advantages as well. When faced with...]]> Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:21:57 +0100 Complaints sent to the foundation Burn-Out show that company physicians are increasingly being put under pressure by employers. Through diagnosis fraud, employers are trying to get sick workers out of their businesses.

Burn-out discovered that fourteen percent of Dutch employees face burn-out, or extreme work stress often related to exhaustion. An employee with burn-out is considered sick. Therefore the employer is obliged to continue to employ these workers. Since an employer does not benefit from sick employees because of the right to salary through periods of illness, the employee is often regarded as a high risk.

Stress in the workplace...]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:09:15 +0100
In the last few weeks, companies in Sweden and the U.S. have been making considerations towards lowering the standard working day from eight hours to six. The idea is that this will increase the efficiency of production compared to an eight-hour day. Moreover, there will be more satisfied employees and higher profits.

In some companies, even a five-hour workday has been introduced. These companies argue that the eight-hour working day no longer fits the current times and trends.

Companies that have shorter working days for their employees still pay the same amount. This is because the productivity of the employees...]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:06:14 +0200 A technical change to the regulation of wages and working hours came into effect on October 13 2015. New rules have been proposed for the calculation of transition fees and the fee that an employer has to pay if they ignore the notice period for contracts.

The Staatscourant notes that this change will affect the average working hours that are calculated for employees who have not worked due to leave, strike, or illness. Currently, if an employee has not worked for a total of thirty days due to these reasons, the average working hours calculated are extended by another calendar...]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2015 10:08:51 +0200 On July 1 2015, the new 'Work and Security Act' (WWZ) came into effect, which aims to improve employments laws in The Netherlands. It focuses on changing the rights of flexible workers and to make it possible to achieve fairer dismissals. This created a situation that is both complex and cumbersome, but offers HR managers a chance to take proactive measures on securing a leading role.

With the WWZ, minister Asscher added a number of new rules on those working within The Netherlands. According to Kennedy Van der Laan, it comes down to this:
• The trial period is now...]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:37:30 +0200 Issues in House of Representatives on sick pay

There are some doubts about the implementation of the continued payment of wages for employees on sick leave in the House of Representatives. Minister Asscher admitted in a parliamentary debate that they are busy with this plan, but now it seems it has not yet been confirmed.

The plan of action states that small business up to ten employees would only need to pay the wages of sick employees for a mandatory two year period. This could now be shortened to one year.

In his statement to the parliament Minister Asscher from...]]> Sat, 10 Oct 2015 18:37:19 +0200 Can you fire an employee because they did not gain the required certificate? The court ruled in favour of yes. The employee in question had not gained the required safety certificate, and according to the court, may be fired. He was given a severance package.

The Situation

This began with a company in the construction industry working with heavy equipment and specialised machinery. In the past, there had been incidents in the workplace where workers have been injured. An inspector from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment had already given the company a fine in relation to safety regulations....]]> Thu, 08 Oct 2015 12:18:44 +0200 Starting from 2017 brand new fathers can enjoy a few days longer paid leave after the birth of their child. The leave is extended from two days to five. Minister Asscher believes that an extension of the birth leave for fathers would be 'very good'.

The minister does not confirm yet that these plans would be announced during the budget plans for Prinsjesdag, but he would appreciate it. "Because we know that it is good for the child and for the parents if the father is involved in the first days of the child. Then agreements about care in the...]]> Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:06:11 +0200 According to CBS, the total number of hours worked in temp jobs increased by 3.2% in the second quarter on the first quarter of 2015, which makes it the most substantial increase in almost five years. Besides, hours worked under both long-term and short-term employment contracts increased at a higher rate than in the previous quarter.

In the second quarter the number of long-term temporary contracts, e.g. secondment and pay-rolling, increased by 3.9%. Employers want to be more flexible in recruiting and dismissing personnel, therefore they increasingly prefer long-term temporary contracts over permanent ones.

The number of hours worked under...]]> Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:05:55 +0200 While five years ago men had a greater chance to lose their jobs than women, today this possibility is equal for both women and men. It was reported my CBS on Wednesday, 26th August.
In 2013, 5.8 % of men were on benefits or assistance, compared with 5.7 % of the working women. In 2009, this division was still significantly skewed, as 4.8% of working men relied on benefits, comparing with 4% of working women. According to CBS, The proportion of women who claim benefits is growing in recent years, because many jobs have disappeared in the caretaking and education sectors. Relatively...]]> Wed, 26 Aug 2015 17:07:15 +0200 The Cabinet is devising a more flexible pension plan. The so-called “average premium” (doorsneesystematiek) should be abolished, said junior social affairs minister Jetta Klijnsma on Monday 06 July 2015.

All young and old employees annually pay the same contribution and build up the same pension in this “average premium” system. However, according to NU.nl, Klijnsma calls this unfair, since the contribution of young people earns interest for longer than that of older people. Thus, more and more young people find that they have to pay way too much of pension contribution. The Cabinet also points out that the current system...]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2015 11:56:58 +0200 ING’s shutdown of its branch in Arnhem by the end of next year will affect approximately 650 employees.

According to Reuters, the Dutch bank’s spokesman reported on Thursday July 2nd 2015 that call centre and IT operations will be moved to other locations, while the majority of the tasks will be moved to Leeuwarden.

Layoffs are not planned. However, “some” employees might be lost due to a reorganization announced last November.

The trade union CNV is outraged. “This is a disaster for the local employment. Part-time call centre workers are certainly not commuting to Leeuwarden to work there”, said CNV...]]> Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:09:46 +0200 Workers between the ages 20 to 64 who are financially vulnerable often have part-time jobs. Out of those, 13% of men’s and 27% of women’s income is below social security level.

According to CBS’s report on Tuesday, more women are employed on a part-time basis because they prefer not to work long hours. As a result, 80% of financially vulnerable women work less than 20 hours a week.

Financially vulnerability is twice as common among self-employed and is also prevalent among flex workers, who have salaries at social security level. Financially vulnerable men are nearly three times as often flexible...]]> Mon, 06 Jul 2015 10:41:12 +0200 An investigation of the trade union CNV Care and Welfare is offering new evidence this week of the hardships many disability caregivers face. The number of reports of unsafe conditions increases.

Accordingly, more than 85% of them are subjected to swearing, hitting, threats and other forms of aggression. A quarter of these workers feel that their bosses force them to withhold this, and that they should not file a complaint.

The president of the union points out that it most likely has to do with cutbacks in healthcare, which result in less staff and thus in less attention to the...]]> Thu, 02 Jul 2015 12:11:30 +0200 In the Netherlands, a growing number of people aged 50 and older found employment in the first four months of this year. Almost 26,000 were hired, which is around a quarter more than in the same period last year.

The Employee Insurance Agency (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen, UWV) published these figures on Wednesday 10 June 2015 and expects this positive trend to continue next year. The benefits agency sees the best chances for over-50s to find work in retail and wholesale trade as well as business services. These are the sectors that are expected to create new job openings.

This year in...]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2015 11:12:02 +0200 In the past year, the wage gap amongst female and male employers is getting smaller. The salary difference is currently declining, and might finish disappearing.

According to the report Loonwijzer en Monsterboard, (Wage and Monsterboard), which provides an annual insight into wage developments in the Netherlands, the female gross earnings remain unchanged at € 13.86 per hour, however the man gross earnings has decline from € 15.19 to € 14.72 per hour.

This decrease means that the wage gap of 5.8% (€ 0.86 per hour) is more than three percent less than the year before and will continues to decline...]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:50:30 +0200 When choosing a job, Dutch employees tend to think that an interesting task is more important than a higher salary with a less content prospect.

Linkedin released these findings in their global Talent Trends 2015 report on Wednesday 03 June 2015. It surveyed more than 20,000 professionals in 29 countries, of which 678 were Dutch.

Challenging tasks, professional development, future prospects and growth opportunities are particularly relevant to the Dutch participants. Employees appear to be less enthusiastic about better job titles. Additionally, the report highlights that the Dutch place remarkably little importance to better pay and benefits (16%), which is...]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2015 11:26:40 +0200  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment has already acknowledged this issue at the end of last year, as it has turned out to be a serious problem. There will be a major national campaign against bullying in the workplace.

A study by TNO in 2013 revealed that 17% of employees are sometimes bullied; which makes one of six employees. The economic crisis could be seen as one of the causes. “In uncertain times, some people need to show that they are better than others, and this was done by bullying co-workers”, said Laura Willense from the “Bullying on the workplace” foundation...]]> Tue, 02 Jun 2015 12:08:48 +0200 Every year, holiday grants for countless Dutch employees are an “extra”. However, this year, it might not be the case for many. According to a recent ABN AMRO study case, 16% of Dutch employees’ holiday grants and tax returns are actually needed by them to survive the upcoming months ahead.
ANP stated that not everyone is able to use their holiday grant to go on a luxurious holiday, particularly workers that earn less than the average income (less than 35,000 euros gross per year). For these employees, the holiday grant is usually used to pay off certain bills.
Out of the...]]> Thu, 07 May 2015 13:03:39 +0200 Approximately, a quarter of 44 million part-timers in the European Union (EU) last year wanted to work more hours than they actually did.
The European statistics agency Eurostat (Europese statistiekbureau Eurostat) stated that the 10 million part-timers would like more work – they represented 4.5% of the total workers in the EU, of which, two-thirds consisted of women.
The demand for additional work for part-timers in the Netherlands is the least in comparison to all the EU countries. Only 4% of part-time workers wished for more hours. The Netherlands is by far the leading part-time worker supplier in the region....]]> Thu, 07 May 2015 12:55:36 +0200 The Dutch political party, Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) is proposing demotion and lower salaries for mature workers to decrease unemployment in this group.

According to the Financieele Dagblad (FD), CDA’s Scientific Institute reported that the elderly tend to have difficulties finding employment, partly because they are more costly than other staff. Demotion is supposed to contribute to reducing unemployment amongst mature workers.

The report highlights that seniors’ employment needs to be brought more in line with those of other workers. Also, Hans de Boer, the chairman of The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW), advocated demotion at the end...]]> Thu, 09 Apr 2015 12:37:30 +0200 The merger between cable operators UPC and Ziggo has led to the loss of 450 permanent positions. Several hundred temporary and external contracts will not renewed.

Ziggo reported that these jobs will disappear in the following three years. “Merging these two companies will lead to a more efficient cooperation,” said the company in a press release. This particularly applies to product development, innovation as well as infrastructure departments. Also, layers in the management department will be reduced.

According to the trade union CNV, Ziggo’s mass layoff is not unexpected, but its degree is “shocking”. CNV’s spokesperson, Albert Spieseke said to...]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2015 14:32:41 +0200 Increasing youth minimum wage as high as adults’ minimum wage will eventually lead to a rise in youth unemployment, stated the Verbond van Nederlandse Ondernemingen (VNO) and Nederlands Christelijk Werkgeversverbond (NCW) also known as the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers.
Last week, the union argued over the increase of minimum wage and started a campaign against it, reported Nu.nl. According to the two organisations, under-educated youth will be particularly affected by the Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging’s (FNV) plan. The FNV believes in rewarding employees based on productivity rather than their age.
VNO-NCW also mentioned that youth unemployment will be quite harmful to...]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2015 14:53:42 +0200 Absenteeism in the workplace has plummeted in The Netherlands in the past few years. In 2014, it decreased to 3,8%, which is the lowest absenteeism rate recorded since 1996.

The Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) suspects the ailing economy as well as the mild flu epidemic behind the decrease. In the previous year, an average 38 of 1000 employees were sick. In 2000 / 2001, the absenteeism rate was recorded at 5.5%. This significantly dropped to 4.2% until 2004 and hardly changed until 2011, where it started to consistently decrease once again.

According to CBS, large companies tend to report higher workplace absenteeism....]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2015 14:05:10 +0200 The turnover of the hospitality industry in The Netherlands, including catering and accommodation, rose in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to the previous year.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) revealed that throughout the entire year, the turnover climbed by 5.6%. The last time it achieved such a sales increase was in 2007 at 5.5%. CBS claims that all branches delivered positive summary of the sales, particularly restaurants by 6.6% and snack bars by 6.4%.

Furthermore, the increase in turnover in the hospitality industry has brought about an upturn in the job market. Also, 64,000 new job vacancies were created in...]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2015 10:52:58 +0100
Vodafone announced a new mandatory minimum global maternity policy on 6 March 2015.

According to its press release, Vodafone will offer at least 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave, as well as full pay for a 30-hour week for the first six months after their return to work.

This will especially have a positive impact with women working at Vodafone’s operating companies in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the US.

Vodafone Group Chief Executive, Vittorio Colao, said: “Too many talented women leave working life because they face a difficult choice between either caring for a...]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2015 12:32:30 +0100 The Dutch transport sector’s turnover increased by more than two percent in 2014 and thereby reached its record growth since the economic crisis.
According to the report released by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), all branches of the sector contributed to this positive upturn.
The postal and courier services were a major contributor to the upturn in the industry – the sectors managed to increase their turnover by almost five percent last year. Internet shopping went through a boom and led to greater logistics demand, which caused a rapid eight percent growth within courier services.
The aviation industry announced an equal turnover...]]> Mon, 09 Mar 2015 11:47:36 +0100 For years employers have insisted on a more flexible dismissal regime and and less employee protection. More flexibility is not to be expected. As from 1 July 2015 the new Dutch dismissal law will be even more rigid, so it seems.

Soon there will be exhaustive list of grounds for dismissal and compulsory routes. Dismissal for economical reasons or because of long-term incapacity (illness) to work will be dealt with by the UWV (or (new) an own dismissal commission set up in a Collective Labour Agreement). In case of other grounds for dismissal, e.g. disfunctioning, the employer must request the...]]> Mon, 02 Feb 2015 12:16:45 +0100 Dutch parents with young children did not work less between 2009 and 2013 after a decreased in subsidy for childcare during this period. The employment rate did not change compared to parents with older children.
The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) released its report on 12 February, Thursday.
CBS also highlighted that the government and employers have decreased the reimbursement to parents for their billable childcare costs over the years. In 2009, that figure was 76 percent and in 2013, it was 63 percent.

The report stated that parents brought their children to formal day-care for lesser hours. Also, there...]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2015 12:59:55 +0100 Women expect less promising careers after pregnancy states survey results from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

According to the research, 58% of childless women in The Netherlands expect that having children will influence their working career in a very negative way. However, only 24% of the men expect that parenting will be detrimental to their careers.

Young and highly educated people, both men and women, also think that their chances on the labour market will change adversely when they have a child. Men also think that parenting has more influence on the career of women than on themselves.

According...]]> Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:25:32 +0100 It will be easier for pensioners to remain in employment if they wish. At present they often have to work through a temporary employment agency or as a self-employed person after they reach state pension age. The government wants to make it easier for them to continue working under a contract of employment. The easier this is, the longer society can benefit from their experience and know-how. Pensioners can in turn enjoy the benefits of daily activity and additional income.
The cabinet has agreed to a proposal by Minister Asscher of Social Affairs and Employment, Minister Opstelten of Security and...]]> Fri, 06 Feb 2015 12:21:11 +0100
In case of offering or renewing of a fixed-term contract mind the new “chain provision” (ketenregeling). This rule controls how many fixed-term contracts can be closed.

As from 1 July 2015 the number of fixed-term contract remains three; the maximum duration will be two years, instead of three years. This means that a fixed-term contract will be converted into an indefinite contract, automatically, if either the duration of successive fixed-term contracts exceeds two years or more than three fixed-term contracts are concluded following one after another with intervals of six months or less. Contracts will be viewed as successive if...]]> Mon, 02 Feb 2015 12:21:42 +0100 Half of the young people today would rather have a meaningful job than a high salary, according to a latest research.

This was reported by consultancy group, Global Tolerance in the UK.

Four out of the ten respondents stated that they would prefer a meaningful job than a high salary. Also, 53% of young people said that they would work harder for an organisation that benefits society with 36% stating similar view among other age groups.

Sixty-two percent of young people also want to work with a company that has a positive influence on the world. In total, 42% said...]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2015 12:54:46 +0100 Children growing up in families living on social benefits often have a lower level of education at 30 than their peers. Irrespective of education level, the number of children from households living on social benefits who receive benefits later in life is also above average. There are various reasons for this phenomenon, e.g. it may be genetically determined or it may be the set of norms and values an individual grows up with. Sons and daughters are most often high-educated and employed, if they were raised in families with working parents or a working father and a mother with no...]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2015 13:09:17 +0100 The Dutch are willing to give up pay or days off, especially if it means getting more job security, according to Het Financieele Dagblad.

The newspaper stated that the long period of moderate economic growth and redundancy has reinforced the feeling among employees that they must abandon certain rights, reported Nu.nl.

Researcher Hans van der Spek of HR knowledge center, Berenschot, also sees that there is more willingness among employees to forego salary increase, wage or a thirteenth month.

A study he conducted showed that the terms of employment of almost a quarter of employers worsened in 2014. One in...]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2015 17:14:54 +0100 People who work long hours, on average drink more in their free time, says a new research.

The study was published in The British Medical Journal by a group of Finnish researchers, reported NU.nl.

If employees work more than 48 hours a week, they are more likely to exhibit 'risky' drinking behavior. In women, risky drinking is defined as thirteen glasses of alcohol per week, and for men it is about 21 glasses, stated the research.

The scientists got their findings through analysis of 61 studies on alcohol consumption in 14 different countries, including The Netherlands, the United States, Germany...]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2015 17:27:08 +0100 Dutch employees are generally satisfied with their workplace leaders, states a latest research.
Results from The National Leadership Survey 2015 that was released on Tuesday 20 January, showed that bosses scored an average of a 6.8 and executives rated themselves a score of 7.6.

Trust could be the reason for the reasonable grades with both the surveyed workers and male and female executives interviewed, notes the study.
The research highlighted that four in 10 employees still prefer an older boss compared to a younger boss. Also, nearly 20% of respondents stated their preference fora male supervisor.

Furthermore, there should be less...]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2015 12:13:08 +0100 Thai agricultural workers in Israel face serious labour rights abuses because Israeli authorities are failing to enforce their own laws, says Human Rights Watch.
The report, A Raw Deal: Abuses of Thai Workers in Israel’s Agricultural Sector released today, notes low pay, excessive working hours, hazardous working conditions, and poor housing for some of Israel’s Thai agricultural workers – and employer retribution if they try to protest by going on strike.
The Human Rights Watch recommends that Israeli authorities should take immediate steps to improve its enforcement mechanisms and investigate whether unsatisfactory living and working conditions have contributed to a...]]> Wed, 21 Jan 2015 13:15:00 +0100 A new job and restructuring plan will see the police and defence sectors in The Netherlands receiving around €40 million.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Economy has set aside €16 million for this plan. Employers and trade unions from both sectors will be paying the rest of the amount.
Spokesperson for Minister Lodewijk Asscher gave the details to The Telegraaf on Wednesday.
According to ANP, the police force employs around 60,000 personnel and from which, approximately 10,000 employees work in supporting roles. The number of supporting jobs will decrease in the coming years to 8,500 but the number of...]]> Thu, 15 Jan 2015 11:05:08 +0100 HR advisors and HR business partners and SME HR generalists are some of the main HR roles that will be in demand in Australia this year, said the Hays Quarterly Report.
The research highlighted positions that will be in demand in the HR industry for the year.
HR Advisors/HR Business Partners – Senior HR Advisors who specialise in employee relations and performance management are sought after. Demand is particularly high in the healthcare, retail and manufacturing industries. Vacancies are on offer in both new organisations or in companies that have not had any internal HR support. These organisations also require...]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2015 13:59:26 +0100 The working conditions in the collective agreements no longer fit with the current reality of the labor market and therefore need to be adjusted.

Before advocating employers' organizations VNO-NCW, MKB-Netherlands and AWVN in their terms of employment 2015.

They want more flexibility in the collective agreements that according to the organizations must consist of more space for individual agreements, a reward structure that moves with the economic conditions and the reduction of irregular payments. Flexible forces must also, at the same time, get more security.

Employers make these agreements preferably in consultation with the unions, but in the eyes of...]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2015 10:53:15 +0100 The Japanese are allowed to work in the Netherlands without work permits, according to a recent ruling by the State Council, reported by the Volkskrant on Wednesday.

The Council of State annulled a fine of 60,000 euros for the Japanese cultural center Shofukan, handed out by the Labor Inspectorate. The cultural center built a Japanese teahouse in Rotterdam using Japanese workers. Shofukan assumed that these employees did not need a work permit because of the short duration of the project.

The Labor Inspectorate thought otherwise and decided that a penalty was warranted. The cultural center successfully appealed against the fine....]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2015 10:40:45 +0100 London’s West End unseated Hong Kong-Central as the world’s highest-priced office market, but Asia continued to dominate the world’s most expensive office locations, accounting for four of the top five markets, according to CBRE Global Research and Consulting’s semi-annual Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs survey.

London’s West End’s overall occupancy costs of US$259.36 per sq. ft. per year topped the “most expensive” list. Hong Kong-Central followed with total occupancy costs of US$234.30. Beijing’s Finance Street (US$197.05), Beijing’s Central Business District (US$189.67) and Hong Kong’s West Kowloon rounded out the top five.

The study also found that rents are rising fastest...]]> Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:31:07 +0100
As from 1 January 2015 the first part of the Dutch Work and Security Act (WWZ) will be in force. This act will drastically reform legislation governing flexible employment contracts and the Dutch dismissal law. The first part that comes into effect on 1 January 2015 will be of importance for fixed-term contracts in particular.

A novelty is the introduction of the statutory notification obligation for employers.

Please be aware that in case of a fixed term contract, for a duration of six months or more, the employer must notify the employee in writing, at least one month before the...]]> Thu, 18 Dec 2014 18:22:30 +0100
New employment law:
From 1 January 2015, watch out for standard provisions!

If a fixed-term contract is closed or renewed as from 1 January 2015 attention should be paid to standard provisions, such as the trial period and the non-compete clause. As a consequence of the Dutch Work and Security Act (WWZ), part of which will be effective as from 1 January 2015, new rules apply!

A probationary or trial period is not allowed anymore for fixed-term contracts up to 6 months. It is considered undesirable in such a short-term contract.
To contracts with a longer duration, from 1 January...]]> Thu, 18 Dec 2014 18:26:44 +0100 The people in The Netherlands commute an average of 42.5 minutes for work, according to a study commissioned by Samsung Electronics, writes the Belgian Metro.

The European average is almost 45 minutes. The Belgians' work travel time was found to be the longest – they commute 53.2 minutes for work. Also, the Spaniards and Italians travel more than 51 minutes for work.

At 36.88 minutes, the British have the shortest work travel time followed by the Germans with just under forty minutes.
...]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2014 12:53:32 +0100 Dutch employees can expect an average salary increase of 2.3% next year. According to Hay Group’s annual global remuneration survey, The Netherlands is below the European average of 3.1%.

The Group announced the survey results today. According to the study, The Netherlands scores average compared to its neighbouring countries. Belgium and France expect a wage increase of 2% and Germans will be receiving a 2.8% increment in their salaries.

Globally, increase in salaries in 2015 is expected to average 5.4%. This figure is partly affected by substantial salary increases in South America by high inflation rates. Another factor is challenge...]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2014 12:47:11 +0100 Work Cost Rule: parking

From January 1, 2015 the Work Cost Rule is applicable for all employments. In this rule is determined what costs can be paid tax free to the employee, what costs can be paid with 80% end wage tax and what costs are regular salary. How about the car and parking?

Company car
A company car is processed as regular salary. That implies the applicable percentage of the new catalogue value is added to the income, unless the employee can proof not to drive more than 500 km per year for private use. Costs related to such...]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2014 10:50:04 +0100 Orange Tax Services

The year is ending almost and this is the time to evaluate the year with your employees. Have you never done this, it is never too late too start.

Year end meeting

A year end meeting is to discuss with the employee the goals set, goals met or other achievements of the year. It is also a good moment to inform the employee that you are very much satisfied with the job done or effort put into the company. Always much appreciated.
For the good news message the year end evaluation is less important, it is the bad...]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2014 09:54:08 +0100 Parents have gained greater flexibility in how they share the care of their child in the first year after birth as new regulations regarding Shared Parental Leave (SPL) came into force on 1 December 2014.
The UK government released in a press statement that the new rules, which apply to couples with babies due or children matched or placed for adoption on or after 5 April 2015, allows parents to choose whether they want to share the mother’s maternity leave.
As many as 285,000 working couples are expected to be eligible to share leave from April 2015. The changes in...]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:31:44 +0100 In the modern age of Linkedin and social media it is easier than ever to secure new positions; yet why do so many companies not invest time in employer branding, especially on the agency side.

It amazes me how many junior recruiters out in the market cannot tell you anything about the companies they recruit for and why you would want to work for them.
Just a few days ago I was headhunted for a senior profile role at a major market leading FMCG company, yet when I asked the consultant a few key questions his response astounded me:

1)...]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2014 14:16:44 +0100 According to study of the German Institute for Makroökonomie und Konjunkturforschung the average Dutch employee working within the private sector costs the employer €33 per hour, whilst the average amount in the European Union stands at €23.90.

This puts The Netherlands in sixth place on the list following Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, France and Luxembourg. At the top of the list with the most expensive employee rate is Denmark, where the average cost of an employee is €41.30.

Just try to compete with the Bulgarian employees who cost their employers as little as €3.60 per hour!!...]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:36:29 +0100 Europeans, by far, enjoy more vacation time than their peers in Asia Pacific and North America, earning nearly twice as many paid vacation days every year, states a report by Expedia.

According to 2014 Vacation Deprivation study, the median number of vacation time available to employed Europeans is 28 days. Thirty days are offered to residents of Denmark, France, Germany, and Spain. They take full advantage; residents of all four countries report having taken every day available to them. Their European peers trail them only slightly. UK residents take 25 of 26 days whereas Italians take 21 of 28 days....]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2014 10:45:24 +0100 Work has become less important for people compared to nine years ago, according to the latest report by CIPD. A similar study in 2005 showed that nearly half of employees found work most important in life but only 28% share the same opinion now. It also appears that more people prefer a well-paying job over a job that they like.

The research found another significant change in people’s work mentality – the where, the how and who people want to work with has altered. More than one third of the 633 respondents wanted to change their working hours.

The main...]]> Fri, 07 Nov 2014 11:58:37 +0100 The Tokyo District Court ordered a restaurant chain and two of its personnel to pay more than half a million dollars in damages to the family of an employee who killed himself due to overwork in November 2010. The man was forced to work nearly 200 hours overtime in a month. The President of Sun Challenge, a Tokyo-based steak house chain and another were found culpable in failing to stop the employee from working excessive hours, reported AFP.
According to a Kyodo News report, the presiding judge, Akira Yamada stated the “psychological load of prolonged work and power harassment caused...]]> Thu, 06 Nov 2014 11:52:13 +0100 Lodewijk Asscher, Minister for Social Affairs and Employment announced that the ministry will be paying special attention to the issue of workplace bullying during yesterday’s parliament debate over working conditions.

According to ANP, the minister responded to a plea from Labour MP John Kerstens, who referred to a research stating the increase in cases of workplace bullying.

Minister Asscher said that he wants to handle the problem of workplace bullying. Also he wants to allow his department to inspect companies if they appear to have taken little measure to prevent workplace bullying. The minister also agreed to implement measures against...]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:05:33 +0100 The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SWZ ) will be launching the Check Your Stress Week or Check Je Werkstress campaign, from 3 to 6 November to create awareness of work stress related issues and how to reduce it.

According to a press statement by the ministry, nearly 1 million people are at risk of burnout or other work-related mental illness in The Netherlands. Also, over one in eight employees in The Netherlands suffer from stress and a third of the work-related absenteeism is caused by stress.

Lodewijk Asscher, Minister for Social Affairs and Employment will kick off the...]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2014 13:02:47 +0100 The Best Workplaces in The Netherlands  in 2014 list has been revealed by the Great Place to Work® Institute. SAS Nederland, Microsoft and Novo Nordisk top the list as the best large multinational companies for employees.
The research institute releases an annual list of top organisations to work for throughout the globe – large multinational companies, medium-sized enterprises and small and young enterprises. These organisations on the list show a special policy that leads to trust toward management, employees being proud of what they do and having fun with the people they work with.
The score on the employee survey (two-thirds) and...]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:22:25 +0100 The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment has announced that the gross minimum wage and minimum wage for employees under 23 years of age will be slightly increased from 1 January 2015.

The minimum wage will increase by 0.44% from 1 January in comparison to the minimum wage established on 1 July 2014. The minimum wage for full-time employment applies to employees of all ages from 23 years to retirement age. The gross minimum wage is proportionally lower for employees who work part-time.

According to the Minimum Wage and Minimum Holiday Allowance law, the gross statutory minimum wage based on...]]> Tue, 28 Oct 2014 11:52:39 +0100 Globally men continue to do better than women when it comes to having full-time work for an employer, according to Gallup's global Payroll to Population (P2P) employment rate study. The gender gap remained just as wide in 2013 compared to five years ago.
The study highlighted that full-time employment has not grown since 2012 and remained at 26% in 2013 across the globe. The P2P employment rates have remained stagnant since 2012 with 34% for men and 18% for women.
Sweden and Iceland are the only two countries in the world with a P2P rate higher than 50% ( Sweden...]]> Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:53:31 +0200 Women who are expecting multiple births should be entitled to an early maternity leave, of at least four weeks, says an MP.

On 13 October, Pieter Heermabrug, MP for Christen Democratisch Appèl’s (CDA) initiated the discussion with Minister of Social Affairs, Lodewijk Asscher about extending maternity leave, reported NU.nl.

According to Heermabrug, women who are expecting twins or triplets rarely go on leave on the 34th week of pregnancy, which is common. Often, they quit on doctor's advice before the 30th week. Heermabrug suggested that the maternity leave for these women should officially start in the 30th week.

Steven van...]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2014 08:54:55 +0200 The regulation to create 100,000 jobs for people with disabilities by 2026 in The Netherlands has created heated discussions.
According to ANP, the government plans for these jobs for disabled professionals who are unable to earn statutory minimum wage. However, employers and employees demand a broader definition, emphasising that it might be disadvantageous to highly educated professionals.

Last Monday, presidents of VNO-NCW and FNV, Hans de Boer and Ton Heerts, respectively, spoke at a sitting in De Tweede Kamer about the agreements Jetta Klijnsma, Secretary of the Sate (Social Affairs) has made with the social partners.

A majority of the...]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2014 10:59:16 +0200 Employers say that FNV’s (Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging) demands that organisations give all employees a raise of €900 next year could lead to layoffs.
Hans de Boer, president of VNO-NCW , the confederation of Netherlands industry and employers, said on Radio 1 programme De Ochtend that FNV’s requirement could prove bad for certain sectors, especially the ones that have not overcome the economic crisis and are still facing difficulties doing so.

According to ANP, he also stated the demand is senseless. He pointed out the retail and housing sectors as examples, stating that they are still facing a lot of difficulties...]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2014 10:58:12 +0200


Nyenrode MBA Roadshow - The Hague WTC The Hague 14-10-2014

Nyenrode is coming to you! During our MBA Road Show we will visit a variety of cities in the Netherlands in order for you to experience how a Nyenrode MBA can boost your career and personal development.

Looking for an MBA to get the most out of yourself and your career? Come to the Nyenrode MBA Road Show The Hague, powered by Together Abroad on October 14th 2014.
Discover how to drive innovation, exercise power and become the best leader you can be!

Program MBA Road Show The Hague

18:00h – 18:30h Registration...]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2014 14:59:09 +0200 How can HR attract International candidates to The Netherlands

With the increasing globalization of business operations and the talent market-place, many employers find themselves having to recruit outside their own borders for talent. As international recruiters enter the new global marketplace for jobs, they soon find that they are not only competing for talent against other companies, but that they are also competing for talent against other countries, continents and time zones.

This means that in order to run a successful international recruiting campaign to attract top talent (and not just average candidates) from around Europe or around the world, employers need...]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2014 14:36:45 +0200 The experience of an applicant during application procedure by organizations will become crucial in the coming years, especially in a tight labor market when the vacancies will soon be difficult to fill. "Therefore, it is smart to invest in the Candidate Experience," says Veronique Oonk from Intelligence Group.

Experience of candidate is crucial

Several factors determine the experience of a candidate with the employer, Oonk says: "Strictly speaking, it all starts with the first contact with company during recruitment (job fairs ) or the visit of recruitment page of company’s website. It is all part of Candidate Experience. But to...]]> Mon, 04 Aug 2014 12:17:12 +0200 Interview tip: What is your greatest strength? One of the most popular questions in a interview is “What is your greatest strength?” or “what are your strengths?”. The answer to this question will give the interviewer an idea of your personality and capability to perform the job offered. There is no right or wrong answer as soon as you give positive strengths related in some way to the position.
It is strongly recommended to prepare the answer to this question beforehand. It has to sound credible and you have to be ready to give some examples that support the credibility of...]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2014 12:55:06 +0200

Despite it is difficult to discover if a candidate is being honest in an interview, body language provides signals that can lead the recruiter to unmask the liar.

Dr. Lillian Glass, a behavioral analyst, worked for the FBI to unmask body language signals of deception. In her book “The Body Language of Liars” describes the following signals.

• Sudden head movement
If the candidate moves suddenly the head after you ask a question, you may hear a lie. The head will be retracted, bowed down or crocked before the...]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2014 11:58:25 +0200
Nowadays, improving team’s performance is a challenge for management. Employees are not seen as individuals anymore. Now they are part of a team and the company’s success is closely related to how well they can create a high-performance team. In its simplest terms, the concept focuses its efforts in the development of teamwork skills and team communication as well as a good understanding of team dynamics and improvement of team performance to reach company’s goals. Teambuilding can vary from complex role-playings to simple bonding exercises. Most activities include exercises about brainstorming, creativity, collaboration and feedback. The target areas for these...]]> Fri, 11 Jul 2014 11:46:04 +0200 Before an interview is over, the recruiter gives the candidate an opportunity to find out more information about the recruitment process, the company or the position. This time given to ask questions is more important than it seems.

Even thought you think there is no need for asking anything else, the fact is that you must ask something to conclude the interview. Not making that question can affect your success in the recruitment process. Questions show interest in the job or in the company but also is a good way to clear any doubts that your potential employer could have about you or maybe...]]> Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:43:54 +0200 HR professionals recruit successfully through Social Media Using Social Media, HR professionals can fill vacancies reducing recruitment costs. In addition, an active social media policy provides positive attention. This results in a good image for an organization and increases employees engagement according to research from ADP. Most of HR professionals include Social Media in their HR Policy. More than half of them expect Social Media to be the most important channel of personnel recruitment. The use of Social Media is also very beneficial for employees as nearly a third of job seekers who use social media get an offer by an...]]> Mon, 07 Jul 2014 14:56:51 +0200 It is not a secret that the importance of coaching is growing sharply in the business environment. This increase is visible in many sectors and professions. Blue chip companies like Coca Cola or Google know the advantages of coaching and its effective way to improve employees’ performance. Coaching is a type of Human Resources Development. It deals with employees in a supportive and positive way to enhance their personal effectiveness within the business. There are three types of coaching within the business environment: executive coaching, corporate coaching and leadership coaching. Coaching enhance motivation, leadership skills, management skills, interpersonal skills, personal...]]> Thu, 26 Jun 2014 10:30:34 +0200 Tips to deal with Ramadan in the workplace
This year the Ramadan begins on Saturday 28th or Sunday 29th of June. How should your organization deal with Muslims who want to participate in Ramadan while work continues?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam (faith, pray, almsgiving and pilgrimage). This month of fasting and abstinence lasts 29 to 30 days. The end of Ramadan falls this year around Sunday 27th and Monday 28th of July 2014.
The beginning and end of Ramadan depends on the position of...]]> Wed, 25 Jun 2014 17:33:27 +0200 Human Resources: How economical crisis and regulations affect dismissals.
A recent study has shown how 40% of managers would replace their employees. However, there are many regulations regarding dismissals which truly restricts that will. When the legal barriers disappear and there is no obstacle that number rises to 88%. According to Dick Koopman, Director at Yacht, who conducted the survey, there is a big mismatch going on because of the economical crisis. As a consequence of a lack of vision in organizations, managers do not know what is needed in the future and thus cannot respond to future needs. Due to the...]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2014 12:49:54 +0200 Humble business leaders are more effective
A new research shows how modesty is the key to become a successful leader. Mighty humble leaders benefit from a more open mind and culture.
This conclusion emerges from the PhD research of Milton Sousa from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM). He defends his thesis "Servant Leadership to the test: new perspectives and insights' on Thursday, June 12th, 2014 at the Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Often, modesty is associated with iconic spiritual or political leaders, not so much with leaders in the business world. In his thesis, Sousa shows that modesty is one of...]]> Wed, 11 Jun 2014 20:00:40 +0200 The economy is improving and the traditional labour market hobbles are automatically back. However, the labour market has changed. A new rule should provide a balance between flexibility and security, and the mismatch between offer and demand.
The crisis will disappear, and the jobs engine will start rotating again. According to Joop Schippers, Professor of Labour Economics, we should not cheer up too fast. He expects that the end of the crisis will not solve everything. "Indeed, there is also structural unemployment."
Moreover, the labour market has changed comparing to the previous crisis in the 80s. Ton Wilthagen, Professor of...]]> Fri, 06 Jun 2014 15:15:38 +0200 CHANGES TO THE DUTCH LABOUR LEGISLATION In the weeks ahead, there will be some changes to the Dutch Employment Legislation and these changes will be take effect from the 1st of July 2014. The intent of these changes is increase job security by putting a check on flexible employment practices thereby facilitating a natural progression for employees in The Netherlands from fixed term contracts to more permanent job contracts.

It is advisable to keep abreast of these changes as they will provide all stakeholders in the job market with the tools and information to make informed decisions about the employment relationship....]]> Mon, 26 May 2014 09:04:12 +0200 Lodewijk Asscher, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs, is taking steps to address the problem of stress.
His Ministry will check working hours, workload and aggression in the workplace. Asscher also wants employers and employees to be aware of the risk of too much stress. He has launched a campaign to point this out.

Stress is a taboo
One third of work absenteeism is caused by stress. According to the Minister, it is often a taboo, “employees are ashamed to talk about stress. Hard work is nothing wrong, but the conditions to do so should be there. For example, you can...]]> Tue, 20 May 2014 19:09:42 +0200 Should a vacancy be filled? Social media is the solution. Many HR professionals and recruiters are struggling in the search of new talent. The U.S. recruitment guru Kevin Wheeler is convinced that social media is the future of recruitment. "The tools may change, but not the concept of social media and the internet to find the right people ".
The first step for HR professionals is therefore, according to Wheeler, that HR professionals know the importance of learning about social media. "However, I see that many HR professionals have cold feet and did not even want to try. Then, it...]]> Tue, 20 May 2014 19:00:47 +0200 Only 8% of the HR managers believe that their team have the right knowledge and skills to face all the challenges related to human resource management and strategic planning, and that they are an added value for the company.

Tim Gould distils from Deloitte's report "Global Human Capital Trends 2014" that human resources management is not ready for the challenges of the future. The comprehensive report shows the opinion of 2.500 (HR) leaders about HR-related topics. Seen as the greatest challenge, HR leaders try to maintain and keep relevant staff and ' reinvent ' the HR function. Most organizations do not...]]> Mon, 19 May 2014 10:03:07 +0200 Some Information on Salary in The Netherlands.

As the economy in The Netherlands strengthens and consumer confidence increases we expect that this will influence hiring decisions positively.

As part of this multiplier effect, we expect to see increases in available job positions and even the creation of new openings. This will mean new jobs for job seekers and increased growth opportunities for employees.

There are exciting times ahead and it does pay to get more familiar with salaries, pay structures and allowances.

So let’s talk for a bit about salary in The Netherlands. What is the difference between the gross...]]> Thu, 15 May 2014 16:41:22 +0200 .
Employees make use of social media and other digital tools when they are at home. By allowing the use of these at the workplace, companies can use them to drive a cultural change in the organisation, says Erik Muinck Keizer, Country Manager Benelux and Robert-Jan van Berckel, Senior HR Business Partner at Google.
The main idea behind Google is that they work as they live, “We can help you to work the way you live by extending the features and options and create the environment you need to be productive, innovative and successful. “Google said in an introductory text...]]> Fri, 09 May 2014 17:06:31 +0200
Reed Business Media is proud to announce that is has received the certification " Top Employer Netherlands 2014” together with a number of other selected organisations. This is an official recognition for excellent HR policy .
Excellent benefits
An examination of the Top Employers Institute found that Reed Business Media offers its employees excellent working conditions. Thus, the organization scored high on career opportunities, working conditions, training and opportunities for flexible working. The company is praised for the wide ' range ' of benefits and networking opportunities .
A clear recognition
Renee van der Laan , Director of Human Resources...]]> Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:31:33 +0100 Popularity temporary contracts increased
Employers in the Netherlands see more and more the benefits of temporary contracts for strategic personnel . The demand for temporary workers is also expected to increase this year. It is a worldwide trend.
According to research by Page Personnel among more than 13 thousand employers and professionals on temporary work and interim management the popularity of temporary contracts has tremendously increased.

Testing newcomers
Dutch employers indicate that see as the main benefits for temporary labor 2 things: the flexibility ( 91 percent ) and responding to the short term needs ( 85 percent ). Another reason...]]> Wed, 12 Mar 2014 09:57:24 +0100
The amount of hours worked in temp jobs increased in the fourth quarter of 2013 relative to the third quarter. The number of hours worked on secondment basis also grew. Temp agencies also reported turnover growth as a result of the increased demand for temp and seconded staff.

More hours and higher turnover
Adjusted for seasonal variation, the number of temp hours grew by 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013 relative to the third quarter. The marginal growth registered in the third quarter thus continues. The amount of hours worked on...]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2014 09:53:32 +0100 The Lower House has accepted the Work and Security bill on 18 February. Included in this bill is the amendment in which is stated that employers are obligated to offer their employees training. An employer will no longer be able to just fire an employee on grounds of dysfunction without having offered schooling.
This was stated by Maarten van Gelderen of Van Gelderen Arbeidsrechtadvocaten on www.hetnieuweontslagrecht.nl. According to an appendix added to the amendment, in this case it is an extension of the already existing ‘good employers’ concept. Van Gelderen states that we should not underestimate the importance of this obligation....]]> Thu, 27 Feb 2014 10:07:12 +0100
Employees realize that a romance in the workplace can backfire on their careers.
That conclusion came out of the of a global survey by recruitment platform Monster. 39 percent of respondents believe that the relationship could jeopardies their career, and they would never start a romantic relationship with a colleague. Another 19 percent confirms the danger to possible the career, but is determined that it should not stop them from falling in love and starting a romantic relationship with a fellow colleague. Only 15 percent say that a relationship would constitutes no possible danger to the career but nevertheless they...]]> Fri, 14 Feb 2014 12:16:29 +0100 Skilled migrants are highly educated foreigners carrying passports from countries not belonging to the EU, EEA or Switzerland, moving to The Netherlands in order to contribute to the knowledge-based economy. If you invite a skilled migrant to The Netherlands you will have to be an acknowledged referent. In this position you will be able to apply for the skilled migrant’s residence permit. You will have to pay the skilled migrant a wage higher than a set limit. This is stated in the Law for modern migration policy.

Referent acknowledgement obligatory
Only if you are an acknowledged referent  is it possible...]]> Wed, 12 Feb 2014 11:24:07 +0100 Employing foreigners does not only bring benefits, there are also some disadvantages. An example is unfair competition for Dutch workers or the fact that foreign workers sometimes face abuse.

Unjust Competition and Repression
Foreign employees are often less expensive to employ than Dutch workers. This may lead to competition distortion. Dutch workers could therefore lose their jobs. In the rule, foreign self-employed workers will also work for a lower rate than their Dutch colleagues.

Foreign Employee Abuse
Some employers abuse foreign employees. Examples of this abuse are:  Paying foreign workers less than the legal minimum wage; Ignoring the Collective Labour Agreements;...]]> Wed, 12 Feb 2014 11:09:50 +0100 The benefits of employing foreign workers for The Netherlands:
• Foreign workers replenish shortages in the labour market.
• Certain foreign employees possess expertise of which there is not enough in the Netherlands. There are special arrangements for these workers, such as the Skilled Migrant Programme and programmes for athletes and artists.

Skilled Migrant Programme
Skilled migrants, such as talented architects and scientific researchers, are able to contribute to the Dutch economy. This is why more flexible admittance regulations apply to this group. Skilled migrants for instance, do not need a work permit. The employer attracting skilled migrants to The...]]> Wed, 12 Feb 2014 10:57:42 +0100 European legislation determines that employees from the European Economic Area (EEA) have permission to work in The Netherlands. The EEA consists of all the countries belonging to the European Union and Lichtenstein, Norway and Iceland. Furthermore, the government ensures that employees needed in The Netherlands are able to start quicker.
Free Traffic within the European Union
For employees from one of the EEA countries there are no limitations. They are able to work in The Netherlands without permits. Citizens of countries which do not belong to the EEA need a work permit.
Citizens from Croatia are not allowed to work...]]> Wed, 12 Feb 2014 10:45:48 +0100 Dutch maternity leave is much shorter than in the rest of Europe

When it comes to the duration of pregnancy leave or maternity/parental leave The Netherlands scores one of the worst in comparison to other European countries. Respectively 16 and 26 weeks of leave are almost the exact opposite of No. 1 Czech Republic where women get to 28 of pregnancy and 192 weeks of parental leave . Dutch fathers are also not better off than other European daddies . This is evident from the Worldwide Benefit & Employment Guidelines , conducted by consulting firm Mercer .

Mercer examined countries...]]> Tue, 11 Feb 2014 15:49:49 +0100 Supplementary pension: new tax laws
From 2014 onwards, 67 will be the age for supplementary pension accumulation under good fiscal conditions.
Preparation Under examination Accepted In force
The Upper and Lower Chamber have accepted the proposal
The fiscally attractive percentage for supplementary pension accumulation will drop by 0.4%. People on an income of €100.000 or more won’t receive tax deduction when saving for extra pension.

Preparation Under examination Accepted In force
The proposal is being prepared by the cabinet
Excise duties on beer, wine, sherry, port and spirits will rise by 5.75% on 1 January 2014. In January 2015, excise duties on cigarettes...]]> Wed, 29 Jan 2014 18:31:15 +0100 Workplace conflicts
15 percent of all employees have experienced some sort of conflict at work with management staff or with colleagues. Let’s be honest: in a conflict with management staff an employee tends to be on the losing end. So, do we just take our loss…..?

Conflict does not mean you are ill
If you are in an unhealthy work situation, the logical option seems to be to call in sick. The number of people calling in sick due to a labour conflict lies between 70,000 and 100,000 annually. But in the opinion of medical officers, being in a labour conflict...]]> Wed, 29 Jan 2014 18:29:01 +0100 Were you confronted with a drop in your net wages this year? Chances are that it will be on the up for 2014. Compared to 2013, you will be better off by a small percentage on all gross incomes up to € 4350.

If you are on a fulltime minimum income (€ 1500 a month), you will be € 50 (net) better off each month. This large diverge continues up to € 1750, from there on up it dwindles. For instance, an average income of € 2500 will see a net increase of € 35. People working part-time earning approximately...]]> Wed, 29 Jan 2014 18:24:32 +0100 Amendments 2014

Pay slip
If your wages dropped last year, chances are your wages will grow in 2014. All gross wages under € 4350 will People earning a higher income will see a decline in their net wages. There are several reasons for this. The tariff of tax bracket one has gone up which means you will pay less tax on the first part of your salary. Besides this, general tax exemption will become income dependable. Labour credit will grow for everyone earning up to approximately € 3350 a month. In the coming year it will grow with € 374 to...]]> Mon, 27 Jan 2014 11:11:22 +0100
Why You Should Put Millennials at the Heart of Your International Hiring Strategy - Jobs in the Netherlands
There are three forces acting on the world of international hiring and assignments and these are creating a need for recruiters and HR to shift their strategic focus to the Millennial Generation (Born 1998 -2002).

This does not mean discarding Generation Y (Born 1965 1982) and Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964), as a multi-generational hiring strategy will lead to diverse teams that are more flexible and adaptable and more high performing; I am fully behind multi-generational teams!

However, the demographic shifts that are occurring...]]> Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:03:47 +0200 International Job Fair 2014 Amsterdam 5th April 2014

Why this Job fair?
Although hard to imagine in the current economic climate, particularly with the growing unemployment rate in the Netherlands, the shortage in the skilled and highly-educated workforces is expected to grow in the coming year(s). With this in mind, Expatica & Together Abroad introduce the 2nd International Job Fair, a unique opportunity for organisations to showcase themselves and meet hundreds of job seekers.
All in one day!

Features International Job Fair 2014
Target audience consists of both new and established members of the international community looking for a job...]]> Mon, 25 Nov 2013 17:09:59 +0100 The HR Tech Europe 2013, hosted in Amsterdam on 24 and 25 October was an exciting place to be. In attendance were highly inspiring people that are seeing the bigger picture and discussing the leading role HR is going to play in the future. Below we highlight some of the changes taking place in the world of HR.

Paradigm change in HR

In HR, we are right in the middle of a massive paradigm change. This is also true for recruiting - HR is still stuck in traditional thought patterns. However, nowadays it's all about change: It's about re-engineering the...]]> Fri, 01 Nov 2013 10:12:23 +0100
One of the main areas of discussion at this year’s HR Tech Europe conference, held on October 24 and 25 in Amsterdam was the Top 10 key HR Investment Areas for 2013 – 2014. Marc Coleman, founder of the Pan European HR Network and contributor to HR Tech Europe discusses these 10 key focus areas.

European HR Investment Areas Talent Management
Given the old and sometimes tired adage of ‘people are our most important asset’ this is never likely to change for obvious reasons. This is still seen as the biggest pain point for so many businesses, big and small...]]> Fri, 01 Nov 2013 10:08:33 +0100 The Dutch Association for Personnel Management and Organizational Development (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Personeelsmanagement en Organisatie ontwikkeling - NVP) has updated its application code and placed it in line with modern HR practices of recruitment and selection.

The main changes implemented in the new NVP recruitment code include:
• The use of social media in recruitment and selection procedures has received a definite place within the selection procedure standards.
• Raising awareness among candidates and organizations that what is stated on the internet about a candidate or his employment history is not necessarily always correct.
• Tightening of the complaints procedure...]]> Fri, 01 Nov 2013 09:55:09 +0100 Appical, a Dutch cloud software company in the field of HR won the 2013 iHR Award last week at a ceremony that took place during the HR Tech Europe conference. The company has developed a mobile platform for employees to work faster.

The jury consisted of experts from various fields of Accel Partners, Deloitte, Oracle, Randstad, SuccessFactors and Tincup & Co. Appical was unanimously elected as the winner due to the apps focus simplicity and impact on the HR community.

Amongst companies from Israel, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and the United States, Appical was the only Dutch company that was...]]> Fri, 01 Nov 2013 09:52:15 +0100 Dutch employers have written to parliament to protest at tax increases on industry which are included in the recent budget agreement. In particular, the increase in tax on mains water will have an ‘unintentional and disproportionate impact’ on companies, especially those in the chemicals and metal sectors, the VNO-NCW employers' organisation says.

The tax means some firms which currently pay €50 a year for mains water may have to pay €10m in water taxes a year, the organisation's research shows. Hospitals and other public sector organisations which use a lot of water will also be hard hit, according to the...]]> Wed, 30 Oct 2013 18:23:57 +0100 A recent study has shown that within organizations the right freelancer is not always hired for the correct job. This is mainly due to little input and influence from the HR team during the selection of the freelancer.

That is at least a quarter (26 percent) of ZZP (zelfstandig zonder personeel), according to the research on 617 freelancers, done by Fast Flex. Two-thirds of freelancers in practice encounter that job descriptions do not match the reality. In addition, 58 percent noted that no account is taken of the corporate culture and often times the freelancer is matched correctly to the...]]> Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:24:53 +0100             Spouse Programme: Career assistance and counselling in the Netherlands

Together Abroad offers a Spouse programme, advice on your job prospects through a number of individual sessions with a career advisor.
Together we examine your opportunities, taking into account your strengths, weaknesses and barriers. We will analyze your current situation and your ideas for your new professional challenge.
Our advisors will also guide you through strategies and planning for your new career. In addition, we will assist you to search for job opportunities and learning options which can facilitate your entrance to your career choice in the Netherlands.

Additional modules of the...]]> Thu, 26 Sep 2013 15:34:21 +0200 Employee motivation is a hot topic in corporate circles at the moment. Why? Because recent research from Aon Hewitt tells us that 40% of employees globally are disengaged and demotivated. The situation is at its worst in Europe where 43% of employees are disengaged, compared to 37% in North America and just 26% in Latin America.

Since there is plenty of evidence linking employee motivation to productivity, its vital that HR professionals, (in Europe especially), work on raising employee motivation levels in their business.

So, what steps can HR take to begin increasing engagement and motivation levels in their business?...]]> Thu, 08 Aug 2013 12:16:56 +0200 The candidate and employer dynamic has been shifting for some time as a result of: globalization, changing work habits, the arrival of Generation Y, and the explosive arrival of new technologies such as social media and mobile. In this article, we will outline some of the key trends affecting recruitment in 2013.

1. Employer Branding Is Increasing. Employers are increasingly seeing the importance of developing an attractive employer brand in order to attract talent. This is shown by Employer Brand International's 2012/2013 Global Research Study which has revealed that 39% of companies are looking to increase their investment in employer branding...]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 08:48:31 +0200 Finding great leaders for a business is one of the constant challenges faced by all talent management teams. Great leaders can mean the difference between 'good' and 'great'; they can drive organizations through change, they can turnaround troubled businesses and they steer companies to success. So, what does a great leader look like?

Well, a recent white paper in Harvard Business Review, titled 'Leadership That Gets Results' has outlined an interesting modern framework that employers can use to spot great leaders in the hiring process. They argued that the most effective leaders are able to exhibit six different styles of leadership...]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 07:32:12 +0200 How To Use Social Media to Find Top Talent For Your Firm

Latest figures suggest that over 90% of employers are using social media for hiring. Why? Because talent shortages and tough economic conditions remain in place throughout the world – including the Netherlands – and social media is an effective new way to find both domestic and international talent at a low price.

This is why employers should get on board with social media hiring or risk being left behind in the war for talent. There are three social media hiring channels that you should focus on and these...]]> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:22:13 +0200

Social media is an important and exciting new recruitment channel which many employers are now incorporating into their hiring process. Reports suggest that up to 90% of employers now use social media to attract talent. The most popular social media hiring channel is Linked-In and Twitter is very popular too. So, what does it take to effectively attract talent through Linked-In or Twitter?

Starting with Linked-In. One of the most effective ways to find talent on Linked-In is to build a following of relevant talent on Linked-In and then to market vacancies to your following. The best way to do...]]> Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:22:40 +0200 What Does it Take to Manage International Teams Effectively?
As a result of the globalization of trade, culture and talent over the last decade, employers now find themselves leading and managing international teams consisting of staff of multiple nationalities and coming from diverse cultures. This change in the make up of teams cannot be ignored and companies with international teams needs to internationalize their management processes if they are to remain effective.

So, what does it take to manage international teams effectively?
One of the main ways that the management process can be internationalized is to hire, promote and encourage...]]> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:16:20 +0200 Modern Migration Policy Act enters into force on 1 June 2013 

The Modern Migration Policy Act (Wet modern migratiebeleid) will be introduced on 1 June 2013. State Secretary Teeven stated this in his letter to the House of Representatives. The National Visa Act (Wet nationale visa, also referred to as the MVV Act) will be introduced simultaneously.

The Modern Migration Policy Act can enter into force now that INDiGO, the new information system of the IND, is functioning and can adequately support the implementation of the act.

Once the act has been introduced, most migrants will need to have a sponsor...]]> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:45:40 +0200 What Does it Take to Manage International Teams Effectively?

As a result of the globalization of trade, culture and talent over the last decade, employers now find themselves leading and managing international teams consisting of staff of multiple nationalities and coming from diverse cultures. This change in the make up of teams cannot be ignored and companies with international teams needs to internationalize their management processes if they are to remain effective.

So, what does it take to manage international teams effectively?

One of the main ways that the management process can be internationalized is to hire, promote and encourage...]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:26:37 +0200 The Modern Migration Policy Act (Wet modern migratiebeleid) will be introduced on 1 June 2013. State Secretary Teeven stated this in his letter to the House of Representatives. The National Visa Act (Wet nationale visa, also referred to as the MVV Act) will be introduced simultaneously.

The Modern Migration Policy Act can enter into force now that INDiGO, the new information system of the IND, is functioning and can adequately support the implementation of the act.

Once the act has been introduced, most migrants will need to have a sponsor in the Netherlands. Sponsors and migrants have statutory obligations under...]]> Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:15:00 +0100 Did you know that, according to the Brookfields Global Relocation Trends survey, 6% of international jobs fail, that is, they end prematurely? This statistic should be of interest to all international workers, as the typical expatriate assignment requires a significant investment in time and energy from the employee, spouse and family and, in the case of the partner it can also include a certain amount of personal sacrifice. The cost of failure in an international posting is therefore extremely high and it is vital that you do everything you can to minimize the risk of assignment failure.

So, what steps...]]> Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:16:19 +0100
With the increasing globalization of business operations and the talent market-place, many employers find themselves having to recruit outside their own borders for talent. As international recruiters enter the new global marketplace for jobs, they soon find that they are not only competing for talent against other companies, but that they are also competing for talent against other countries, continents and time zones.

This means that in order to run a successful international recruiting campaign to attract top talent (and not just average candidates) from around Europe or around the world, employers need to know how to effectively market their...]]> Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:19:59 +0100 As an international employer who regularly recruits for roles requiring international candidates, or a company looking to source their first international employee, you will already be aware that recruiting internationally can bring greater challenges than recruiting for local candidates, that is the process can be: more expensive, require more coordination and take longer. Of course, in most cases the rewards to the business of international recruitment far outweigh the costs.

Even so, you should be aware that international applicants may be at greater risk of leaving the assignment early or under-performing as they may have additional cultural adaption issues to...]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:56:46 +0100
Why should partner employment be a key issue for international employers looking to hire overseas applicants into their business? Well, according to a unique study by the Permits Foundation, titled the International Survey of Expatriate Spouses and Partners, 60% of the global workforce would be 'unlikely to relocate to a country where it is difficult for their partner or spouse to find work'. This was a very expansive study, which took in the views of 3,300 expatriate spouses and partners from 122 nationalities working in 117 host countries.

Therefore, this study deserves to be taken very seriously by international employers...]]> Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:43:53 +0100 FNV (Federation Dutch Labour Movement) wants permanent contracts after one year

AMSTERDAM – Every employee should automatically be offered the right to a permanent contract after having worked for the same employer for a year, according to the FNV.
The trade union stated so last Wednesday preceding the hearing on flexible labour and security in the Dutch Lower Chamber. The FNV, who so far mainly focussed its efforts on employees working with permanent contracts, is now looking to improve the position of flex workers. Catelene Passchier, the labour conditions coordinator for the FNV, is very concerned about the increasing number...]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:01:06 +0200