‘No-nonsense, short lines of communication and the ability to act quickly: De Verzuimmakelaar suits us’

At Seats and Sofas, as specialists in seating furniture, they hold a unique position. “We are a unique retail company,” says Nicole Dijkshoorn. “Our affordable sofas and armchairs are available from stock: buy today, sit tonight. No other company offers that.” Seats and Sofas has 21 megastores in the Netherlands. In De Verzuimmakelaar, they found an occupational health service provider that truly fits.

Offer matches needs
Nicole is an administrative HR assistant and has been working at Seats and Sofas since 2018. “In 2019, we got in touch with De Verzuimmakelaar. We were looking for a new occupational health service provider, and owner Mirelle Klijs is in our financial director’s network. The services that De Verzuimmakelaar offers suit our organization.”

Tailor-made solutions and personal contact
De Verzuimmakelaar’s vision is that every case is unique. “They provide tailor-made solutions and you really have personal contact with your case manager. That’s very pleasant. All the case managers at De Verzuimmakelaar have a lot of expertise and also think along with us about absence prevention. There is always someone who suits you, and I think that is one of De Verzuimmakelaar’s strengths. We are very happy with Anique van Vroenhoven, she is truly an extension of our HR department. Her down-to-earth perspective, the no-nonsense approach, her sense of humor, and the informal contact are things we really appreciate.”

Short lines of communication
Because of the personal contact, the lines of communication are short. “That makes it easy to switch gears. Quickly reviewing a file, getting handy tips before I go into a difficult conversation, or brainstorming about certain developments: Anique is always available for advice. If contact is needed with the company doctor or another professional, such as a labor expert or confidential counselor, she naturally takes care of that for us.”

Not a purely medical cause
Absence is increasingly not caused by purely medical reasons, but other factors play a role. “At De Verzuimmakelaar, they have various professionals in their provider network. Depending on what is needed, they engage an appropriate counselor. For example, a mediator if the situation becomes more complex, or a debt counselor if an employee can’t manage their private situation anymore. The solutions differ per employee, and Anique guides us where necessary. I learn from every situation, which means I increasingly know how to deal with certain issues myself.”

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