The Netherlands, like many countries, is experiencing a dynamic shift in work culture. Our conversations with clients and candidates alike reflect a growing trend: employers are increasingly keen to coax employees back to regular, office based hours. But what does this mean for employees who have grown accustomed to the flexibility of working a remote job?

The Statistics

In 2021, 2 million people in the Netherlands ‘frequently’ worked remotely. Fast forward to 2023 and their number has dropped to 1.25 million. Additionally, employees who 'occasionally' worked from home rose from 3 million in 2021 to 3.75 million in 2023, confirming indications that hybrid arrangements that combine office and home-working are on the rise.

The Impact

The transition back to the office has led to tension between employers and employees. Some companies face increased turnover rates as employees seek alternative opportunities that ensure the flexible working arrangements they’ve come to value. As a result, employers are experiencing business disruption and incurring costs associated with the loss of established skilled workers. So, the question is whether the push to return to the office is truly worthwhile?

At EMEA Recruitment, we work with world-renowned businesses across various sectors, providing us a comprehensive understanding of current and emerging models for hybrid working. As a consultative business, we pride ourselves on educating our clients on how to best position themselves in the market to attract top talent.

If your business is grappling with changes to your hybrid working model/employee retention and satisfaction rates, or if you’re looking for heightened flexibility in your next career move, we are here to support you. Reach out to one of our dedicated team members and see how we can support you in your efforts.

Keely Straw, Manager of our HR recruitment team in Switzerland, posted a LinkedIn poll aligning with Gartner's identified trends for 2024 HR priorities. The results indicated that organisational culture is emerging as a primary focus in Switzerland, closely followed by leadership development.

Organisational culture serves as the bedrock of a company's identity, influencing its values, behaviours, and overall work environment. A strong and positive organisational culture is not only essential for employee satisfaction and retention, but also plays a pivotal role in attracting top-tier talent.

Recruitment, a pivotal element in constructing a thriving team, is intricately linked to organisational culture. Beyond seeking individuals with the right skills, the process involves identifying candidates who not only possess the required competencies, but also align with and flourish within the established cultural environment. A unified culture fosters shared values among employees, propelling them towards common goals and cultivating a harmonious workplace.

At EMEA Recruitment, we understand that the intricacies of organisational culture are paramount. By putting people at the heart of everything we do - going beyond matching resumes with job descriptions - we understand the unique cultural nuances that make a company tick, recognising that cultural fit is as vital as technical skills. We’re committed to finding candidates who seamlessly integrate into the existing work ethos.

Being tuned into organisational culture contributes significantly to a company's success. By acting as a strategic partner and listening, we can embody the shared values and vision of the organisation. This alignment fosters a more engaged and motivated workforce, ultimately leading to increased productivity and innovation.

In essence, the synergy between organisational culture and recruitment is a dynamic force that shapes the present and future success of a company. By partnering with a recruitment agency like EMEA Recruitment - the Bastion of People-First Recruitment - organisations can ensure they are not just hiring employees, but welcoming individuals who contribute positively to the collective identity and success of the company.

If you’d like to find out more about our specialist recruitment services, contact Keely.

When looking for a new role, should candidates focus on quality or quantity in the recruitment process? Sasha Gill, one of our Senior Consultants for Procurement, Supply Chain and Operations in Switzerland, explores which is paramount in a candidate-driven market…

The current recruitment market in Switzerland is candidate-driven. As a result, we are seeing an increase of job seekers being involved in multiple different recruitment processes simultaneously.

Being involved in multiple processes can be advantageous when building your personal network and for your own market-value mapping. In the current market, with recent cost-of-living increases, it is more important than ever for job seekers to benchmark their own salaries in the market. Partaking in multiple recruitment processes at the same time is one way to achieve this.

However, an argument can be made that being involved in several recruitment processes could be a disadvantage. Searching for your next career opportunity can be time consuming enough; having multiple, simultaneous processes may dilute your focus on each role and hinder your thorough research on each prospective employer.

We are keen to hear from our network whether you think quality or quantity is paramount in the recruitment process.

When it comes to searching for your next opportunity, is it quality or quantity that you aim for? Are you open to being in multiple recruitment processes at once, or do you prefer to focus your search on one opportunity at a time?

Get in touch with Sasha to let us know: [email protected]

If you’re interested in looking for a new role in Switzerland, Sasha focuses on Procurement, Supply Chain and Operations roles.

You can also take a look at the Finance & Accountancy positions we have available: https://www.emearecruitment.com/finance-and-accountancy

Or, if you’re a Human Resources professional, we may have a role available that interests you: https://www.emearecruitment.com/human-resources-