HeadFirst Group has been certified as a Great Place To Work for the third year in a row, and this year for the first time in both the Netherlands and Belgium. As many as 77 percent of employees consider the HR-tech service provider to be a Great Place to Work, demonstrating that trust, pride and job satisfaction are central to the organization. Moreover, HeadFirst Group is among the Top 10 Best Workplaces in the Mid-Large Companies and Woman categories. "This achievement is the result of the combined efforts of our employees. It shows that we are heading in the right direction and motivates us to continuously improve our working environment," says Joke de Graaf, Director People & Culture.
Rising employee satisfaction confirms strong culture
The independent Great Place To Work survey shows that the culture within HeadFirst Group has once again been strengthened. The number of employees who say they are encouraged to create a healthy work-life balance rose to 80 percent, six percent higher than in 2023. Also, a greater proportion of employees feel valued (+5 percent), an increasing number see the significance of their work within the organization (+3 percent) and employees perceive the working conditions as special and unique (+12 percent).
"At HeadFirst Group, it's not just about successes, but mainly about the colleagues who make them possible. Therefore, we actively listen to our people and translate their feedback into concrete improvements," explains De Graaf. "For example, we have revamped our fringe benefits so that employees can use flexible and uniform benefits as they choose. We encourage job satisfaction by celebrating successes and events such as MudMasters, the Dam to Dam run and the annual padel tournament. We also introduced a joint onboarding for all labels. Thanks to these efforts and the commitment of our employees, not only has our work environment improved, but we have also increased customer satisfaction to an NPS of +20."
Inclusive and equal workplace
The survey shows that HeadFirst Group scores high with 94 percent on a physically safe working environment. Employees experience being able to be themselves within the organization and being treated fairly - regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, health and/or religious beliefs. Previously, the organization was also recognized in the top 10 Best Workplaces - Mid-Large Companies and most recently as Best Workplaces - Woman, placing it among the top 10 percent of the market in terms of gender equality.
This indicates that HeadFirst Group meets key inclusion and diversity criteria, such as equal or higher representation of women compared to the national benchmark, as well as a balanced distribution in the management team. Currently, 50 percent of executives are women, well above the average of 33 percent. Moreover, female colleagues rate the organization with a Trust Index score above 70 percent. De Graaf explains, "We are - and are perceived to be - an inclusive work environment where everyone has equal opportunities. Diversity and equality are essential for a healthy and innovative organization."
Sports mindset as foundation of team culture
HeadFirst Group is also strongly committed to vitality. A concrete example is Team HeadFirst Group, an initiative in which sports and a top sports mentality are central. De Graaf: " We regularly organize events, celebrations, activities and knowledge sessions. In addition, the mentality helps employees become physically and mentally stronger, which therefore not only contributes to health but also to cooperation, perseverance and a positive mindset in the workplace. We also encourage well-being with a vitality budget, access to the OpenUp platform and flexible working hours, so that employees can maintain a healthy work-life balance. This strengthens the mutual bond between colleagues and contributes to a culture in which performance, well-being and job satisfaction go hand in hand."
Do you have questions about this post? Feel free to contact us through one of our colleagues or check out our media page for more information.
Marije Wildenborg - De Groot
Director Commercial Office
marije.wildenborg-degroot@headfirst.nl
Natasja Spooren-Wassenaar
Manager Communications
natasja.spooren-wassenaar@headfirst.nl