WAI in the Netherlands

Information on the national implementation and use of the WAI in the Netherlands

Background

In the summer of 2007, the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment made the decision that the concept of Workability and the WAI questionnaire should be promoted on a national scale in the Netherlands. The objective of the Ministry is to encourage a growing number of organisations and sectors to increase sustainable employment by using the WAI. The labour market in the Netherlands demands a labour force that works and will work longer, healthier and happier.

Implementation

The department asked the Blik op Werk foundation to take care of the implementation. Blik op Werk was chosen because this foundation represents the main Dutch organisations of employers, employees (unions) and providers. In order to be able to carry out its tasks, the foundation received a start-up subsidy from the Ministry. Blik op Werk will set up a pay-back model for the WAI, so that the subsidy from the Dutch government will no longer be needed in the future.

Tasks

Blik op Werk operates as an independent platform and has the following four tasks:
• Promotion of work ability and the WAI
Creating national awareness and acceptance of work ability and the WAI on all levels.
• Setting up and maintaining learning networks
Sharing and distributing knowledge and experience via learning networks and (digital) media. Promoting research and innovation on the basis of Dutch practice.
• Promoting professional use of the WAI;
Managing and issuing the Dutch licence of the Work Ability Index in accordance with the agreements with the FIOH and the Dutch WAI user agreement.
• Developing and managing a national WAI database with reference figures
This database is intended for benchmarking among sectors and will in time be a source for policy.

How is the WAI used in the Netherlands?

Blik op Werk obtained the exclusive licensing rights for the Dutch WAI from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH). An agreement with rules has been drawn up to guarantee correct use. Blik op Werk concludes sub-licences with organisations that apply the WAI and are able to comply with the rules. The privacy of employees is at least one element that is provided for in the rules. Blik op Werk tests the practical use of the WAI by licensees by means of audit interviews. A fee is payable for a sub-licence, plus a price for each completed questionnaire. Licensees submit their anonymous data to the WAI database and have access to the national database. The Blik op Werk website gives an overview of all licensees.

Some results and activities

• Number of licensees
  Current status: 26, plus 5 applications to be processed 
  
• Number of questionnaires
  Number of completed questionnaires 2009: 20,000
  Expected number of completed questionnaires in 2010: 50,000
  
• In January 2009, we introduced 10 learning networks about work ability. All networks had a moderator who facilitated the meetings of the network. The networks had different themes and participants. The network groups met up an average of four times a year. The moderators also met up a number of times. A total of 150 persons attended the network meetings. Apart from inspiration and exchanging experiences, the networks led to a booklet about the use of the WAI from the employee's perspective, and a research agenda. Four new learning networks will be set up in 2010.
  
• The Work Ability Week
  From 8 to 15 February, Blik op Werk and a number of joint venture partners organised the Work Ability Week. During this week, a total of 11 meetings were held, with topics such as vitality, work ability, age management and research. Juhani Ilmarinen was the main speaker throughout, and addressed more than 1,000 participants. The national conference held on 9 February, entitled "the power of work ability" attracted 300 visitors. The Work Ability Week and Juhani Ilmarinen's visit to the Netherlands, yielded a lot of publicity.
  
• WAI Database
  In the summer of 2009, we started with the functional and technical design of the WAI database. In January 2010, almost 20,000 WAI records were imported into the database. With this data we can create “live” reports and graphs. In the near future we will collect more data from our licensees. Expectations are that, in the future, we will have a powerful, national WAI benchmark that can be used by licensees, policy makers and researchers.
  
• Study trips and informative meetings
  Blik op Werk organises informative meetings about work ability and holds various on-site presentations each month. The second study trip to Finland, including a visit to the FIOH, is scheduled for the first week of October this year. Experience has taught us that after such a trip, the participants continue to form a network. In the future, Blik op Werk wishes to establish an exchange programme with other countries in order to exchange experiences.

About Blik op Werk

The Blik op Werk foundation is a joint venture, set up in 2006 by employers' and employees' organisations, municipalities, service providers, the UWV benefits agency and client organisations. The foundation is a quality institute with the objective of contributing to a lifelong healthy and happy career, continued employment and finding a job. To that end, Blik op Werk provides contracting parties and clients with purchasing and selection information about the quality of service providers that are active on the market of sustainable employability. The most important tools used for this are the Blik op Werk Quality Mark for service providers and the (licence for the) Work Ability Index. Blik op Werk has been an independent foundation since 1 June 2010.

More information

For questions or information, please contact:

Sietske van Rossum
WAI product manager
+31 30 291 60 29
+31 6 433 84 302
s.vanrossum@blikopwerk.nl

Yvonne van der Salm
WAI product assistant
+31 30 291 6023
y.vandersalm@blikopwerk.nl