Better at work: Activation of partially disabled workers in the Netherlands

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThis article presents a unique analysis of how activation agencies in the Netherlands cope with partially disabled employees on the basis of tailor-made individual assessments, representing and executing the shift towards a policy paradigm in activation to work-a synchronic instead of diachronic approach to disability and employability. We focus on two aspects of the administrative process of implementing the new policy: transparency and conditionality. Questions are: do individualised, customised assessments of disability benefits, in contrast to standardised ones, contribute to transparency in assessing partly disabled employees, and how do these workers experience and cope with the conditionality of the benefits? The experienced reality of the targeted partially disabled workers is elaborated upon to understand the implementation of an individualised system. We conclude that the gap between social policy and its implementation needs reconsideration. 283 Mots clés : Allocations Travailleurs handicapés Activation Pays-Bas Transparence Conditions d'attributionr é s u m é Cet article analyse la manière dont les intermédiaires de l'emploi accompagnent aux Pays-Bas les salariés partiellement inaptes sur la base d'une évaluation individualisée. Ce nouveau type d'accompagnement constitue un changement de paradigme dans les politiques publiques d'activation, par une approche synchronique plutôt que diachronique du handicap et de l'employabilité. Nous nous concentrons sur deux aspects de la procédure administrative résultant de cette nouvelle politique : la transparence et les conditions d'attribution. Nos questionnements sont les suivants : ces évaluations individualisées et adaptées des allocations liées au handicap, par contraste avec des attributions standardisées, contribuent-elles à la transparence de la procédure pour des salariés partiellement inaptes ? Comment ces travailleurs appréhendent-ils le caractère conditionnel de l'attribution des prestations ? La réalité éprouvée par les personnes visées est examinée en détail pour mieux comprendre la mise en oeuvre d'une politique individualisée. Nous concluons que le décalage entre cette politique sociale et sa mise en oeuvre demande sa reconsidération.

Modern Micro-Controllers to Improve the Quality of Production Process

“…On the other hand, modern micro-controllers can be used to better use the existing potential of human capital, f. ex. through activation of disabled people (Knijn and Wel, 2014) or to enforce the core competences of startup companies (Korpysa, 2021). Also, there are possible intermediate cases, f. ex.…”

Creating inclusivity through boundary work? Zooming in on low-wage service sector work

“…While we think that our case organization is typical with respect to its hourglass structure and sociodemographically heterogeneous workforce, it is exceptional because of its official inclusion and diversity management, as well as its location at a Dutch airport. For instance, the (re)integration of unemployed and disabled people and the promotion of flexibilization of work has been a key focus point in Dutch social welfare policies (Knijn and Van Wel, 2014;Van Oorschot, 2004) and has thus influenced management's boundary work in our case study organization. Also, the extreme time pressure shown in our data should be read against the background of increasing demands for efficient 'throughput' of passengers and airplanes in the context of the airport sector (Salter, 2008).…”

The ‘compliant’, the ‘pacified’ and the ‘rebel’: experiences with Swiss disability insurance

“…In others, the goal was that of accessing professional retraining opportunities. Research also shows that lack of communication and transparency about policy reforms and the gap between political discourse and its implementation can have negative effects on recipients (Knijn and van Wel 2014;Parker Harris et al 2014;Vedeler 2009). A third type of studies highlights the various instruments mobilised to bring recipients into conformity with the new normative framework.…”