Currently I am working on projects that has the challenge to find answers on how to include every one in the Dutch workforce. This means how to get companies to hire for example people with a disability, seniors, school dropouts or long term unemployed people. The motto is: Every one should work.
Programs are being developed to make this happen and it has become over the years a huge industry.
Companies get all kinds of compensations from the government. There are coaches involved, reintegration companies, unemployment agencies, unions, job centres, other semi governmental bodies and many more. It’s all very complex I must say.
But while in these meetings trying to find solutions and developing new programmes I noticed some questions are not being asked. For example: What’s in it for the companies and why should they hire these people? The money can’t be the main reason, because it does cost the company a lot of time and that means money.
It can only be from a social point of view: “It is the good thing to do”. But I believe there is another social component that has not been mentioned. Happiness on the work floor. Lately I have been visiting companies who hire people with a disability or hire school dropouts. In these companies you feel there is a different energy. Kinder, more relaxed, happier.
By hiring people with a distance to work it not only shows that you as a company have a heart, but employers can show their heart too. It’s an extra addition of purpose on the work floor. And with this it can become a great way to build your company culture of learning, mentoring, caring and looking after each other.
I’m interested to hear more experiences and I wish every company the joy of hiring people from all walks of life.