Introduction

At ICTZaakwaarnemer, the well-being of employees is key. The company is convinced that investing in mental health is crucial for a healthy and productive work environment. Based on this awareness, ICTZaakwaarnemer works with Empowr to preventively respond to the mental well-being of their people. We spoke to Maarten Goedmakers, the CEO of ICTZaakwaarnemer, about their choice, the successes and challenges they encountered along the way. Below you can read the inspiring story of their commitment to a positive working atmosphere.

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As ICTZaakwaarnemer, what made you decide to proactively invest in the mental health of your people?

“It was actually a request from our own people. They indicated that they find mental health important. One of our colleagues had even seen something from Empower. In addition, we also saw within our team that there were colleagues with mental health problems. For example, we started thinking about what we can do to prevent those kinds of situations and ensure that people stay happy.”

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What is going well in your approach at the moment?

“What works well now is that we give our employees a budget to invest in their own mental well-being. For example, we supported this with a campaign with boxing champion Nushka, where everyone was encouraged to schedule coaching sessions. As a result, we see that more people are actively using these facilities. We also set up leadership training courses for managers with Nonons, an EmpowerR partner. The impact on our managers has been enormously positive.”

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Are there any areas for improvement for Empowr or for yourself?

“Getting people involved and getting them to think about mental health remains a challenge. For example, we organize lunch master classes, but sometimes employees miss them due to hustle and bustle. So the challenge lies in making sure everyone gets the chance to participate and participate, not just half.”

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What do you think are the biggest mental health and wellbeing challenges in the staffing industry?

“For seconded employees, maintaining a connection is important. They need to feel part of our community, even if they work for another customer. The feeling of belonging to ICTZ is important, especially because secondment often means that you always end up in a new environment. That's why we also see that many people switch to a permanent position after a few years, but in the meantime, we're doing our best to give them the sense of community.”

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How do you support this connection?

“We have talent managers and account managers who provide personal attention. Our talent managers work with employees on their study or development plan, and our account managers visit the customer to see the employees every six weeks. In addition, we regularly organize team outings and activities, such as karting or padel, which is also good for mental health. This is how we maintain the relationship with our employees.”

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What would you recommend other secondments to do in the area of mental health and wellbeing?

“Make sure it's negotiable. Often people don't talk about it, but it's important that the subject is alive. Through regular check-ins and reminders, such as a monthly wellbeing measurement, you can keep the theme alive and encourage employees to work on it. This way, as an employer, you give a clear signal that their well-being is really important.”

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Maarten Goedmakers - CEO, ICTZaakwaarnemer

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Conclusion

The story of ICTZaakwaarnemer shows how the company is committed to ensuring the well-being of their employees, even in the dynamic world of secondment. With a personal approach and an active commitment to mental health, ICTZaakwaarnemer creates a working climate where their employees feel valued and supported.

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