Being a good employer; Investing in people, today and tomorrow

Being a good employer means treating your employees in a careful, fair and respectful manner. It is a broad concept that has both a legal and a moral/ethical side.

Legal basis
The Dutch Civil Code (Art. 7:611 BW) states that an employer and employee must behave as a "good employer" and a "good employee." This is an open standard: it gives direction, but leaves room for interpretation depending on the situation.

A good employer:

1. Ensures a safe and healthy work environment; both physical (health and safety laws, safety) and mental (prevention of work pressure, bullying, discrimination).
2. Provides clear working conditions; fair pay, clear agreements on working hours, leave and contracts.
3. Invests in development; training, advancement opportunities and room for talent development.
4. Encourages job satisfaction and motivation; by showing appreciation, providing feedback and involving employees in decisions.
5. Supports work-life balance; for example, through flexible working hours or work-from-home opportunities.
6. Communicates openly and transparently; sharing information honestly and in a timely manner, listening to employees.
7. Promotes inclusion and equal opportunity; respect for diversity and equal treatment of all employees.
8. Takes responsibility in sickness and reintegration; with attention and guidance.
9. Thinks about sustainable employability; ensuring that employees can remain healthy, motivated and productive, even in the long term.
10. Sets a good example himself; acting with integrity, reliability and consistency.

Being a good employer is therefore not only about complying with the law, but also about pursuing people-oriented and future-oriented policies. It also often delivers direct benefits: higher satisfaction, lower absenteeism, increased productivity and a strong reputation as an employer.

The Dutch labor market is still tight: in Q2 2025 there were about 101 vacancies per 100 unemployed and a vacancy rate around 44 per 1,000 jobs (with sectoral differences). UWV expects the tightness to continue in 2025. Read more here.

In times of labor shortages, being a good employer is not "nice to have" but THE competitive advantage. Some of these advantages in a nutshell:

1. Faster entry: candidates compare employers on culture, development and flexibility. Being a good employer increases your attractiveness without having to turn only to salary. (SER highlights this as key to attractive work.)(SER)
2. Less outflow & absenteeism: attention to vitality, work-life balance and career prospects keeps people on board longer and reduces friction costs of replacement.(SER)
3. Continuity & productivity: stable teams deliver higher quality and less absenteeism. So also less overtime due to gaps in rosters.
4. Faster learning & retraining: in a tight market you can't "buy" everything; developing your own people (up/reskilling) becomes critical.
5. Reputation & referral: Valued employees are your best recruiters: they refer talent, increase quality and shorten time-to-hire.
6. Future-proofing: tightness goes hand in hand with aging and changing work; investing in sustainable employability makes your organization agile.(UWV)

In short: in a tight labor market, employers who invest in people win. Safe working conditions, fair terms and conditions, growth and vitality ensure that talent is committed and retained. So that teams perform today and are ready for change tomorrow.

As an employer, you want the best for your employees: healthy, motivated teams who enjoy doing their jobs. Being a good employer goes beyond employment conditions; it also means investing in the sustainable employability of your people. With Simple Check you choose a partner who seamlessly links Preventive Medical Examination (PMO), wellness and vitality to the needs of your organization.

Simple Check: your benefits at a glance

• Custom solutions
  We tailor each process entirely to your organization's unique challenges.
• Flexibility
  Health Checks on site, in our van or digitally, exactly as it suits your organization.
• Innovative tools
  Through our user-friendly dashboard, both HR and employees gain instant insight.
• Clear reports
  Concrete, data-driven and practically applicable for improvement actions.
• Guidance from experts
  Our DI specialists support your organization every step of the way.

At Simple Check, we believe that being a good employer starts with attention. Our approach helps organizations to:

1. Create healthy and productive teams by making physical and mental health insightful and discussable.
2. Reinforce strategic HR policies with data from our reports and dashboards.
3. Increase balance and job satisfaction by actively engaging employees in their vitality.

With Simple Check, you choose more than a PMO - you choose a partner in good employment practices.