ASG and Empowr join forces: Together against absenteeism and for employee well-being

The Almere School Group (ASG) has chosen to collaborate with Empowr to better manage absenteeism within the organization. Monique Malagride, HR Business Partner at ASG, explains that the need arose for a professional provider arc, where employees can easily be referred to the right professionals:

‍

“We want to make sure that the people we refer to deliver quality and achieve the desired results.”

With this collaboration, ASG is taking an important step in improving employee well-being and reducing absenteeism. ASG is thus setting up a professional provider bow, preferably with space for its own professionals. It should be easily accessible to HR advisors in both primary and secondary education.

‍

“We want our HR advisors to be able to find quality-oriented professionals quickly and easily.”

Preventive and curative care

ASG sees the most added value of Empowr in the combination of both preventive and curative care. Monique stresses the importance of prevention:

‍

“We are already focusing on prevention via another external partner, where employees can approach coaches themselves. With Empowr, we are also taking a curative approach to referrals from the company doctor.”

Having its own provider base of local experts is important to ASG. “Many of our employees live and work in Almere. We like to involve local partners in our organization. What's more, it's practical if employees can find support close to home.”

Access to the provider bow

ASG has chosen to only give HR advisors access to the provider arc. “With our other partner, employees are in control themselves. If we were to do the same with Empowr, there would be a proliferation of coaches. That's why access remains limited to HR advisors.”

Monique explains that some employees need more than three interviews and that regular care can take a long time:

‍

“By investing in time in processes with a psychologist via Empowr, we can prevent long-term absenteeism. The sooner someone gets back to work, the better.”

Future vision for 2025

ASG hopes that the provider arc will be further expanded to include more professionals in the region by 2025.

‍

“In an ideal world, we don't need to make much use of it. But if necessary, we want to be able to provide the right support right away.”

‍

Monique sees Empowr as a valuable partner in supporting employees and reducing absenteeism:

“We want to be the good employer that offers this type of support within the organization.”

‍