Elkerliek Hospital

Winning Years: 2011
Industry: Hospital Services
Location: Helmond, Netherlands
Website: www.elkerliek.nl
Employees: 2,226; Percentage over age 50: 29.3

Elkerliek Hospital's approach to workforce management is based on extensive Work Ability Index (WAI) analysis. Measures to enhance the work ability of its workforce include job carving, a practice of separating tasks from several existing positions to create a new position fitting the needs of an employee with a disability. Elkerliek also establishes individual risk profiles for each employee as part of efforts to manage physical and psychological stress.

See also: How the 2011 Best Employers winners were selected.

Additional policies and practices:

Lifelong Learning and Training: Over the past year, Elkerliek implemented an extensive e-learning system to encourage continuing professional development amongst employees. E-learning can also be combined with practical, hands-on training if the role requires it.
This new e-learning platform allows the hospital to create targeted, individualized training opportunities, making their professional development program more effective and efficient.

The age of the employee also factors into the creation of a training program. Elkerliek believes older workers learn mostly through prior experience and as such crafts training programs based on previous work experience.

Leadership training is also available for employees in or transitioning to a management position. The training is designed to create leaders who are results-oriented, develop employee talents, give attention to feedback and appreciation, and encourage employees to be more responsible for their work.

Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexibility is a central tenet of Elkerliek's work policy and it attempts to craft individualized work arrangements as much as is possible. The hospital believes that a flexible employee is a motivated employee and encourages intergenerational cooperation to find creative solutions. As an example, a 50+ worker with a chronic disease was unable to continue working in the evenings. Elkerliek rearranged the employee's schedule to working only in the mornings.

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