Good employment: what is that really?

Being a good employer is about more than just following the rules. It’s about creating a culture where employees feel valued and motivated. And yes, culture is the catchphrase of this century. In this blog, we would like to make this statement concrete.

What is Good Employment?

Good employment means that, as an employer, you ensure a healthy, productive and respectful work environment. This means more than just complying with legal obligations; it requires actively listening to your internal needs and responding effectively to them.

What Does Good Employment Mean?

Good employment practices include the following aspects:

• Honest and Transparent Communication: Clear information about business goals, performance, and changes.
• Healthy Work-Life Balance: Flexible working hours and the ability to work from home
• Development opportunities: Investing in training and career development.
• Recognition and Reward: Appreciation for good performance and fair remuneration.
• Safe and Healthy Workplace: Ensuring a safe and healthy work environment.

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Good Employment Act

Dutch law sets requirements for employers to ensure good employment practices. This includes rights and obligations regarding employment contracts, working conditions and preventing discrimination and harassment.

In this law, consider the following standards:

• Safe and Healthy Work Environment: Article 7:658 of the Dutch Civil Code requires employers to ensure safe working conditions.
• Fair Treatment: Article 7:611 of the Dutch Civil Code requires equal treatment and opportunities for all employees.
• Preventing Discrimination and Harassment: Article 7:646 of the Dutch Civil Code protects employees against discrimination.
• Working conditions legislation: Compliance with the Working Conditions Act (Working Conditions Act).
• Correct Payroll Administration: Article 7:616 of the Dutch Civil Code regulates the timely and correct payment of salaries and contractual obligations.

These rules help create an equitable and supportive work environment, but they are bad hygiene factors. In order to focus on retaining staff and being an attractive employer, more is required of your employment.

What aspects affect my employment?

In addition to legal obligations, there are various aspects that influence attracting and retaining talent:

1. Corporate culture: A positive, inclusive and supportive culture is crucial.
2. Work-life balance: Flexible working hours and options for working from home.
3. Career opportunities: Clear growth paths and opportunities for professional development.
4. Recognition and Reward: Competitive salaries and recognition of performance.
5. Innovative Work Environment: Stimulating creativity and innovation.
6. Leadership: Inspiring and supportive leadership that motivates employees.
7. Benefits and Amenities: Extra benefits such as health care, retirement plans and wellness programs.

These factors contribute to a greater or lesser extent to an attractive workplace where talent wants to stay and grow. You can identify the specific factors why employees value you as an employer with an Employee Value Proposition.

Articles about Good Employment

Research shows that good employment practices lead to better business results. Companies that take good care of their employees often have more engaged and satisfied employees. This results in lower turnover and higher productivity, which ultimately saves costs and provides a competitive advantage.

Much is being written about these effects. By us, but also by platforms such as Harvard Business Review and Forbes.

Bad Employment: The Consequences

Poor employment practices can have serious consequences. Employees who are treated poorly often experience stress and demotivation, leading to higher health costs and staff turnover. This has a negative impact on business results.

Example: Bad Employment in Practice

A common example is the Uber scandal, where a toxic work culture led to lawsuits and global image damage. This cost the company not only financially, but also in terms of restoring its reputation.

The Benefits of Being a Good Employer

Investing in good employment has many advantages:

• Increased Productivity: Happy employees work more efficiently.
• Lower Expiration Rates: Happy employees stay with the company longer, which saves costs in recruitment and selection.
• Better Reputation: A good reputation attracts talent and improves the company’s position (which also saves costs in recruitment).
• Innovation: A supportive work environment encourages creativity and innovation.

Conclusion: The Way to Success

Good employment is both ethically correct and strategically necessary. By investing in employee wellbeing and development, companies can achieve sustainable growth and success. Companies that embrace these principles will not only rank higher in search results for “good employment”, but also in the eyes of employees, customers and the wider society.

With a huge shortage in the labor market, good employment can make the difference between mediocrity and excellence. It’s time for more companies to recognize this, not just go for an employer label that they can post on their website, and really get started with being an employer.

Wondering how Deepler can help with that? Check out our solution.

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