[1]Homepage

Accessibility links

    * [2]Skip to content
    * [3]Accessibility Help

  [4]BBC Account
  [5]Notifications
    * [6]Home
    * [7]News
    * [8]Sport
    * [9]Weather
    * [10]iPlayer
    * [11]Sounds
    * [12]CBBC
    * [13]CBeebies
    * [14]Food
    * [15]Bitesize
    * [16]Arts
    * [17]Taster
    * [18]Local
    * [19]Three
    * [20]Menu

  [21]Search
  Search the BBC ____________________ (BUTTON) Search the BBC

  [22]

Remote Control

  (BUTTON)

  Menu
  Loading
  [23]Remote Control | [24]Productivity
  What the Dutch can teach the world about remote work
  [25]Share using Email
  Share on Twitter
  Share on Facebook[26]Share on Linkedin
  [27]Share on Whatsapp
  (Credit: Getty Images)
  By Katie Bishop 24th June 2020
  The Netherlands may have figured out something about working from home
  (pandemic or no) that the rest of the world has yet to learn.
  I

  If you’ve been balancing your laptop on a precarious stack of
  cookbooks, or lamented VPN speed from your kitchen table, you’re not
  alone. Ever since restrictions were put in place to slow the spread of
  Covid-19, companies have been scrambling to enable colleagues to work
  from home.

  As we adapt to the much-cited ‘new normal’, some experts are predicting
  that remote work might be here to stay. This is leaving many nervously
  eyeing up our makeshift home desk set-ups, and wondering how on earth
  we can [28]handle the backache.

  But for some, remote working is just another day at the office.
  Thousands of workers in the Netherlands benefit from the country’s
  astonishingly flexible work culture. While the percentage of employed
  persons usually working remotely before the coronavirus outbreak
  lingered at [29]around 4.7% in the UK, and [30]3.6% in the US,
  [31]14.1% of the Netherland’s workforce reports usually working away
  from the office. The Netherlands has long led the global shift toward
  remote work, with only Finland catching up in recent years while other
  countries lag behind.

  “When the pandemic started, I suddenly found myself playing the part of
  a remote-work coach for my wife and our neighbours,” says Yvo van
  Doorn, an Amsterdam-based engineer. “I was suddenly answering questions
  about home networks and video conferencing. It was eye-opening because
  I’d taken these things for granted.”

  Across the globe, many companies have found that the shift to remote
  work has been a less-than-smooth transition. Setting up usually
  office-based staff with computer equipment, and recalibrating working
  culture to keep employees connected, has been a significant shift for
  most. But for the Netherlands, the country’s already sizeable remote
  workforce means that the adjustment has been much less dramatic.

It was eye-opening because I’d taken these things for granted - Yvo van Doorn

  “Dutch people had certain advantages when we went into lockdown,”
  explains van Doorn, whose employer Auth0 gives all workers the option
  for flexible work, offers a budget to create a comfortable and
  productive home working set up, and helps to arrange coworking spaces
  if needed. “We’re fortunate enough to be a country where 98% of homes
  have high-speed internet access, and the Netherlands has the right
  combination of technology, culture, and approach to make remote working
  successful. I’m judged on whether I deliver value, not on the fact that
  I sit at a desk for nine hours a day. ”

  A culture ripe for remote work

  As we begin to tentatively imagine a post-pandemic future, there will
  be many who find themselves looking wistfully toward van Doorn’s
  permanent home working set-up.
  Dutch King Willem-Alexander working from home in a posed photo at The
  Hague in April. Many Dutch have been working from home, even
  pre-pandemic (Credit: Getty Images)

  Dutch King Willem-Alexander working from home in a posed photo at The
  Hague in April. Many Dutch have been working from home, even
  pre-pandemic (Credit: Getty Images)

  Results of a recent US poll, conducted mid-crisis, suggest that [32]59%
  of remote workers would like to continue to work remotely as much as
  possible once restrictions on businesses and school closures are fully
  lifted. Major international companies, including [33]Barclays and
  [34]Twitter, have already suggested that expensive city office space
  may become a thing of the past. Both have already hinted at an end to
  the commute for its employees, planning potentially long-term remote
  work policies for after the pandemic.

  Aukje Nauta, an organisational psychology professor at the University
  of Leiden, who is researching how companies can enhance individuals in
  a dynamic work context, believes that employers could look toward the
  Netherlands for inspiration as they consider how best to implement
  remote-work policies and set up virtual offices.

  “Values such as democracy and participation are deeply rooted in the
  Dutch working culture, so managers place more trust in their workers
  than elsewhere in the world,” she says. “For example, ING bank [an
  influential Dutch company based in Amsterdam] now has a policy on
  unlimited holidays implemented for pilot groups of workers, who can
  take as much holiday as they want as long as their tasks do not suffer.
  Employers elsewhere are now learning that employees can be trusted to
  work from home, and I believe that in post-corona[virus] times, smart
  combinations of working from home and meeting in real life will emerge
  more and more worldwide.”

Due to the accelerating forces caused by Covid, other countries are in a
turbulent learning curve - Bart Götte

  But there are also broader economic and social contexts that enable
  remote work to flourish in the Netherlands.

  “Physical infrastructure is well developed, and public and commercial
  remote-working facilities are plentiful,” says Bart Götte, a business
  futurist and psychologist based in Amersfoort. “Public libraries have
  reinvented themselves as massive and comfortable modern working spaces,
  and there are an enormous number of small, quality coffee shops that
  service the remote workforce. Employers in the Netherlands have also
  seized the opportunity to cut costs and become more productive – they
  need less square metres of expensive office space, and strict sick pay
  legislation in the Netherlands means that they are motivated to make
  sure that their workers have healthy working facilities at home.”

  The explosion of remote working facilities in the Netherlands hasn’t
  just benefited employees of large companies. Around [35]1.1 million
  workers in the Netherlands are self-employed, and the normalisation of
  the virtual office has made it easy for freelancers and small business
  start-ups to operate without the need for dedicated office space.

  “I’m a solo-preneur and currently work from home,” says Lara Wilkens,
  an event producer in Amsterdam. “Working from home is better for the
  environment, and we have great paid co-working spaces as well as many
  free places where you can trade a service for a workspace.”
  A traffic sign in North Holland urging Dutch residents to stay home in
  April. Throughout Covid-19, the country has been proactive with
  stay-at-home measures (Credit: Getty Images)

  A traffic sign in North Holland urging Dutch residents to stay home in
  April. Throughout Covid-19, the country has been proactive with
  stay-at-home measures (Credit: Getty Images)

  ‘The power to reorganise’

  With the Netherlands displaying an admirable level of trust in its
  employees and an understanding of the digital frameworks needed to
  support remote work, other countries may now be looking towards the
  Dutch as they plan a post-Covid future.

  Many countries struggle with a culture of [36]presenteeism, with
  [37]83% of UK employees reporting having observed pressure within their
  workplace to ‘show up’ regardless of whether their mental or physical
  health allows it. In the US, [38]around 15% of homes do not have
  broadband, and [39]one in five employees report feeling guilty about
  taking time away from the office, worrying that this might make them
  seem less committed to their job. While the Netherlands displays a
  combination of attuned infrastructure, investment in a digital future,
  and culture of trust that makes it an aspirational archetype of a
  well-oiled remote world, companies in other countries still have much
  to understand and adapt to as Covid-19 ushers in a less office-based
  future.

  “What we have seen over the last few months is the power to
  reorganise,” says Götte. “We are now working remotely on a massive
  global scale. I think that we will come out of this crisis more
  digitally literate, aware that many of us are capable of working
  remotely, with more autonomy, and perhaps an aspiration to become more
  independent. Due to the accelerating forces caused by Covid, other
  countries are in a turbulent learning curve, and people are rethinking
  old policies, procedures, customs, and values. When circumstances
  change so massively we simply have to learn by doing, and that is
  perhaps the most important lesson.”
  [40]Share using Email
  Share on Twitter
  Share on Facebook[41]Share on Linkedin
  [42]Share on Whatsapp
  (BUTTON) Share

Similar Articles

  [43]Remote Control
  1[44]Why Zoom calls are so exhausting
  [45]worklife
  2[46]The evolution of home fitness
  [47]Remote Control
  3[48]The luxury of having outdoor space
  Around the BBC

Explore the BBC

    * [49]Home
    * [50]News
    * [51]Sport
    * [52]Weather
    * [53]iPlayer
    * [54]Sounds
    * [55]CBBC
    * [56]CBeebies
    * [57]Food
    * [58]Bitesize
    * [59]Arts
    * [60]Taster
    * [61]Local
    * [62]Three

    * [63]Terms of Use
    * [64]About the BBC
    * [65]Privacy Policy
    * [66]Cookies
    * [67]Accessibility Help
    * [68]Parental Guidance
    * [69]Contact the BBC
    * [70]Get Personalised Newsletters

  Copyright © 2020 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of
  external sites. [71]Read about our approach to external linking.

References

  Visible links
  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/
  2. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work#orb-modules
  3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/
  4. https://account.bbc.com/account
  5. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work
  6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/
  7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news
  8. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport
  9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather
 10. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
 11. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds
 12. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc
 13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies
 14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food
 15. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
 16. https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts
 17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/taster
 18. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/localnews
 19. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree
 20. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work#orb-footer
 21. https://search.bbc.co.uk/search
 22. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/remote-control
 23. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/remote-control
 24. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/tags/productivity
 25. mailto:?subject=Shared from BBC:What the Dutch can teach the world about remote work&body=https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work?ocid=ww.social.link.email
 26. https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work?ocid=ww.social.link.linkedin&title=What the Dutch can teach the world about remote work
 27. whatsapp://send/?text=What the Dutch can teach the world about remote work: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work?ocid=ww.social.link.whatsapp
 28. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200508-how-to-work-from-home-comfortably-ergonomic-tips-covid-19
 29. https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?query=BOOKMARK_DS-052914_QID_-50734B6_UID_-3F171EB0&layout=TIME,C,X,0;GEO,L,Y,0;SEX,L,Z,0;FREQUENC,L,Z,1;AGE,L,Z,2;WSTATUS,L,Z,3;UNIT,L,Z,4;INDICATORS,C,Z,5;&zSelection=DS-052914WSTATUS,EMP;DS-052914FREQUENC,USU;DS-052914INDICATORS,OBS_FLAG;DS-052914AGE,Y15-64;DS-052914SEX,T;DS-052914UNIT,PC;&rankName1=WSTATUS_1_2_-1_2&rankName2=UNIT_1_2_-1_2&rankName3=AGE_1_2_-1_2&rankName4=FREQUENC_1_2_-1_2&rankName5=INDICATORS_1_2_-1_2&rankName6=SEX_1_2_-1_2&rankName7=TIME_1_0_0_0&rankName8=GEO_1_2_0_1&sortC=ASC_-1_FIRST&rStp=&cStp=&rDCh=&cDCh=&rDM=true&cDM=true&footnes=false&empty=false&wai=false&time_mode=FIXED&time_most_recent=false&lang=EN&cfo=###,###.###
 30. https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/telecommuting-statistics
 31. https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?query=BOOKMARK_DS-052914_QID_-50734B6_UID_-3F171EB0&layout=TIME,C,X,0;GEO,L,Y,0;SEX,L,Z,0;FREQUENC,L,Z,1;AGE,L,Z,2;WSTATUS,L,Z,3;UNIT,L,Z,4;INDICATORS,C,Z,5;&zSelection=DS-052914WSTATUS,EMP;DS-052914FREQUENC,USU;DS-052914INDICATORS,OBS_FLAG;DS-052914AGE,Y15-64;DS-052914SEX,T;DS-052914UNIT,PC;&rankName1=WSTATUS_1_2_-1_2&rankName2=UNIT_1_2_-1_2&rankName3=AGE_1_2_-1_2&rankName4=FREQUENC_1_2_-1_2&rankName5=INDICATORS_1_2_-1_2&rankName6=SEX_1_2_-1_2&rankName7=TIME_1_0_0_0&rankName8=GEO_1_2_0_1&sortC=ASC_-1_FIRST&rStp=&cStp=&rDCh=&cDCh=&rDM=true&cDM=true&footnes=false&empty=false&wai=false&time_mode=FIXED&time_most_recent=false&lang=EN&cfo=###,###.###
 32. https://news.gallup.com/poll/306695/workers-discovering-affinity-remote-work.aspx
 33. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52467965
 34. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2020/05/19/after-announcing-twitters-permanent-work-from-home-policy-jack-dorsey-extends-same-courtesy-to-square-employees-this-could-change-the-way-people-work-where-they-live-and-how-much-theyll-be-paid/
 35. https://longreads.cbs.nl/european-scale-2019/self-employment/#:~:text=Self-employment,account workers in the EU.
 36. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190719-presenteeism
 37. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47911210
 38. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/
 39. http://www.apaexcellence.org/assets/general/2018-work-and-wellbeing-survey-results.pdf?_ga=2.35139816.879842262.1592898730-1573732216.1592898730
 40. mailto:?subject=Shared from BBC:What the Dutch can teach the world about remote work&body=https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work?ocid=ww.social.link.email
 41. https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work?ocid=ww.social.link.linkedin&title=What the Dutch can teach the world about remote work
 42. whatsapp://send/?text=What the Dutch can teach the world about remote work: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work?ocid=ww.social.link.whatsapp
 43. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/remote-control
 44. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200421-why-zoom-video-chats-are-so-exhausting
 45. https://www.bbc.com/worklife
 46. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200504-covid-19-update-quarantine-home-workouts-during-coronavirus
 47. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/remote-control
 48. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200617-the-luxury-and-privilege-of-a-balcony-or-yard-during-covid
 49. https://www.bbc.co.uk/
 50. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news
 51. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport
 52. https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather
 53. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
 54. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds
 55. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc
 56. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies
 57. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food
 58. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
 59. https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts
 60. https://www.bbc.co.uk/taster
 61. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/localnews
 62. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree
 63. https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms/
 64. https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc
 65. https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/privacy/
 66. https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/cookies/
 67. https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/
 68. https://www.bbc.co.uk/guidance
 69. https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact
 70. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter
 71. https://www.bbc.co.uk/help/web/links/

  Hidden links:
 73. https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=What%20the%20Dutch%20can%20teach%20the%20world%20about%20remote%20work&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.twitter&via=BBC_Worklife
 74. https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.facebook&t=What%20the%20Dutch%20can%20teach%20the%20world%20about%20remote%20work
 75. https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=What%20the%20Dutch%20can%20teach%20the%20world%20about%20remote%20work&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.twitter&via=BBC_Worklife
 76. https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20200623-what-the-dutch-can-teach-the-world-about-remote-work%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.facebook&t=What%20the%20Dutch%20can%20teach%20the%20world%20about%20remote%20work

You are viewing proxied material from 1436.ninja. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.