Long live the growth of the company and employees

I recently attended a farewell drink for a former colleague and friend. Just 65 and smiling and motivated for his work until the last day of work. He retires after 35 years with the same employer; where do you still see this? It was a nice farewell, where the involvement and passion splashed! This is the employee and colleague you wish everyone to have.

We are currently in a special era in terms of employership. On the one hand, there is a screaming shortage of good employees and, on the other hand, an excessive flexibilization within the labor market. For example, there is a record number of self-employed persons in all layers of the working population. This is often a voluntary choice, where freedom and good remuneration go hand in hand with high costs for the client. On the other hand, we see the pizza delivery driver driving around uninsured to do his job for minimal pay.

Our agricultural sector also struggles with being a good employer. Working in and with nature feels free and is wonderful to do. On the other hand, you work long days, it is hard work and the working conditions are sometimes far from ideal. This demands a lot from the staff and we now regularly see older young people opting for a job outside agriculture.

Meanwhile, a lot is happening in the world. After the corona crisis, the world was surprised by the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and explosive cost increases. This affects our business and personal lives. This creates uncertainty about the future for companies and their employees. Many employees with a decent salary are now getting into trouble due to sky-high energy bills and rent or interest charges.

For Minister van Gennip, this is the main reason to send a package of labor measures to the House of Representatives, in which 'zero-hour contracts' will soon be out of the question and self-employed persons will be obliged to take out insurance against possible incapacity for work.

Realize that you can't do it alone. Is this the optimal time to commit yourself to a company as an employee (for a longer period of time)? That would mean that you should be ready for that as an employer. What do you have to do to create a pleasant working environment where people want to work, preferably for many years? A few decades ago you went to work after your studies and then stayed for years at the same company and in the same position. How do you ensure professionalisation within the company? So that your employees can develop and at the same time you can guarantee the quality you stand for. The quality of your employees and of you are so important for the development and growth of your company.

A good relationship between a boss and his staff is characterized by pleasant communication, with sufficient attention for the person and his story. Do you offer your people perspective within the company and sufficient development opportunities? Then it could just be that you are only allowed to organize a farewell drink for an employee after 35 years.

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Arjan Ausma

Arjan Ausma is senior relationship manager at Farmers Funding & Advice and he is a steward/broker. He also has his own farm.