Reports of workplace misconduct drive 62% surge in confidential advisor use on the job

Dutch occupational health service Arbo Unie says demand for confidential advisors in the workplace has sharply increased, reflecting rising awareness of social safety issues on the job.

Between 2021 and 2025, the number of billed hours for confidential advisors rose by 62 percent, according to Arbo Unie. Employers are reportedly increasingly hiring external specialists for the role instead of assigning the task to employees with other primary functions.

Most reports of workplace misconduct to Arbo Unie last year and this year involved intimidation, abuse of power, and sexually transgressive behavior. Bullying is also widespread, the organization noted, but employees are reportedly less likely to bring those cases to a confidential advisor.

“More and more people are finding their way to the confidential advisor,” said Riemke Bosch, a confidential advisor at Arbo Unie. “That means the threshold to report undesirable behavior is becoming lower.”

Arbo Unie also reported an increase in conversations with employees accused of misconduct. “Employers have a duty of care toward all employees, including those who are accused of undesirable behavior,” the organization said.