With the introduction of equal pay, a new reality has emerged for staffing agencies, including Flexspecialisten. After all, temporary workers and permanent employees must now be paid equally. According to Gerben, the Operations Director, this requires a different way of thinking, but he isn’t worried.

“Our approach helps clients navigate this new situation effectively. We started preparing for this even before last summer. We really needed that time.”

One advantage was that Gerben Flexspecialisten on the ABU’s Equal Pay Advisory Group on behalf of Flexspecialisten . This allowed us to contribute to the discussion on these developments at an early stage. We have been active in the temporary staffing sector for over thirty years. We recruit a large portion of our employees in Eastern Europe. “Most people come from Poland, followed by Romania and Lithuania. We have six offices of our own in those countries where we recruit specifically for our clients. That sets us apart from many other players in the market.”

We find the right match for every client. “We thoroughly prepare our people. They know exactly where they’re going and what the job entails. We guide them through the entire process: from recruitment and preparation to transportation and housing in the Netherlands. We also take care of matters such as applying for a BSN number and arranging health insurance.”

No cowboys

For Gerben, one thing always comes first: ensuring that our employees feel at home and are well taken care of in the Netherlands. “Sometimes people leave their homes and families with nothing but a suitcase to come work here. Just try to imagine how that feels. That’s why we do everything we can to provide them with the support they need.”

That’s why we manage our own housing and have all the necessary certifications in order. “I really can’t stand the cowboys in our industry—those who don’t take the rules seriously and are only out for a quick profit, resulting in poor living conditions. We’re firmly against that. Our people come first.”

Logistics

Our employees often work in production environments at food and non-food companies, as well as in e-commerce, logistics, and retail. Examples include organizations such as Jumbo and HEMA, where they are primarily active in the warehouses.

“We actually meet our clients’ needs in two ways,” Gerben explains. “On the one hand, it involves production work: extra hands. Think of assembly line work, order picking, or packing. Work for which it’s almost impossible to find people in the Netherlands anymore.” The scale of this work is enormous. “The number of employees needed for this is enormous. If this sector were to come to a standstill for just one day, the Netherlands would practically grind to a halt the next day. In total, more than a million people do this work.”

Also at the vocational level

Our people don’t just work as order pickers or on the assembly line. “We also deploy our people in other roles. For example, as machine operators. They have the knowledge and skills needed to work in that kind of industrial environment.” Demand is growing in this sector as well. “This group is also becoming increasingly hard to find in the Netherlands. These days, many people are earning a living elsewhere.”

Monitoring

Our added value lies primarily in making the right match between the client’s needs and the available workforce. “We always recruit specifically for a particular client.” To do this, we use our own monitoring system: FlexTrack. “In FlexTrack, we track all kinds of information: a person’s education, background, and how they’re doing, as well as production standards and assessment questions.”

But the system goes beyond just performance. “We also record each person’s goals and vision for the future. What does someone want, and how can we help? By keeping careful track of this, we can provide our people with the support they need. And that benefits the customer, because it ensures that a motivated employee is in the right position.”

FAQ

We have Flex Support staff on-site at all our client locations. “They serve as a point of contact for our employees. They monitor how things are going on the job site, assess staffing needs, and answer questions.” This is how we also support our clients. “We go a step further than many other companies in this regard. At locations where larger numbers of people work, we often also have one or two in-house coordinators. They handle daily scheduling, for example, and ensure that adjustments can be made quickly when necessary.”

On-site consultation

Equal pay has been officially implemented this year. “That’s good news for our people,” says Gerben. “But for clients, it often means higher costs.” That’s why we’re working with our clients to find solutions. “We help our clients navigate this new cost landscape. Our way of working—where we’re literally on-site—is a huge help in that regard.”

Because we’re closely involved in the operations, we can actively contribute ideas. “For example, we might suggest a four-day workweek instead of a five-day one, while maintaining the same total number of hours. That way, the foundation is in place, but the client can still hire employees flexibly for three additional days.” That’s exactly what it’s all about. “We like to work with our clients to find solutions. Not just for today, but also looking toward the future. That’s what we call a strategic partnership.”

Back to overview