Expansion of part-time contracts in healthcare
In many sectors in Twente, there is an increasing shortage of personnel, particularly in healthcare, where demand for services is rising. One solution to address this shortage is to expand part-time contracts for healthcare staff who wish to work more hours. The project ‘Expansion of Part-Time Contracts’ aims to tackle this by thoroughly investigating what is needed to facilitate increased working hours.
Expansion of Part-Time Contracts in Healthcare
By 2030, if current policies remain unchanged, a shortage of 5,400 healthcare workers is expected. “In the healthcare sector, nearly half of the 1.3 million employees have contracts of 24 hours or less. By rethinking workforce deployment and having open conversations with employees, we found that 40% would be willing to increase their hours under certain conditions,” explains program manager Liesbeth Laman Trip from WGV Zorg en Welzijn. “There is work to be done and gains to be made in the healthcare sector. That’s why it’s great that, with funding from the Twente Board, we’re conducting an exploratory study with 19 organisations across the sector to assess the potential, opportunities, and barriers. All healthcare branches are represented, such as general practitioners, youth care, mental health, welfare, and hospitals.”
Method
The project includes extensive research on whether the "Unlocking Potential" method works. “The method involves broadly exploring what people need in order to work more hours,” Liesbeth explains. “Instead of asking, ‘Do you want to work more?’ we ask, ‘What can we, as an employer, do to make it attractive for you to work more hours?’ That’s where the difference lies. Someone might be open to working more but only in the evenings, or perhaps only in the mornings. We’ve already gained experience with this approach in nursing homes. But it’s unique in the Netherlands to now be having this conversation across all healthcare sectors.”
Additionally, the project aims to establish a learning network in the region, enabling organisations from various branches to share knowledge with each other. “Everyone is searching for solutions, and this research allows the entire sector to learn to do things differently. In this way, we ensure that the knowledge we gain together is retained for the future of the region,” says Liesbeth.
Step-by-Step Approach
The research progresses step by step, Liesbeth explains: “The first step is an introductory meeting with the organisation's director, an HR representative, and the Het Potentieel Pakken foundation. Here, we discuss the challenges, identify opportunities, and review what the organisation is already doing to expand part-time contracts. The second step is an in-depth exploration of how we can align with the organisation’s existing initiatives. Next, a survey will be conducted among staff, and in the fourth step, we develop the learning network. Organisations will then discuss specific topics, such as employee scheduling.”
Gross Twente Happiness
Through the project, Liesbeth expects to gain valuable insights into the potential impact on the Twente region if this approach is fully rolled out. Furthermore, a learning network will have been established. “We want to sustainably anchor all our experiences in cooperation, and I believe this is something Twente excels at. While a full rollout isn’t part of this project, by the end, we’ll know exactly how significant the impact of a broader rollout could be on addressing the shortage of healthcare workers. Our goal is to keep healthcare high-quality, safe, affordable, and accessible for citizens. We are striving for Gross Twente Happiness,” Liesbeth concludes.