Employees in healthcare are increasingly resigning to go work elsewhere, either at another healthcare institution or in a different sector entirely. Absenteeism in healthcare is also at the highest point in five years, according to figures by research agency EY, NOS reports.
Staff turnover in healthcare is currently over 13 percent and absenteeism at almost 6 percent. Both turnover and absenteeism are highest in mental health care, youth care and care for the disabled.
PostNL asked employees of its head office to help deliver post this month, because the company is dealing with a shortage in postmen. In total some 500 head office workers were asked to spend one day delivering post in September, PostNL confirmed to ANP.
Of the workers who left the construction sector after the economic crisis in 2008, only 15 percent returned to the sector before 2017, Statistics Netherlands reported on Thursday. Many found work in another industry. Another part retired or passed away in the meantime.
Staff shortages increased significantly in construction over the past years. In addition to material shortage, the need for construction workers is seen as the main obstacle to growth in the sector, according to the stats office.
Shortages on the Dutch labor market are only increasing, according to a report published by benefits agency UWV on Tuesday. Currently one in five employers experience production issues due to staff shortages. In sectors like temporary employment, call centers, IT services, architects, and the metal- and technology industry, this increases to one in three employers, ANP reports.
The number of medical vacancies at Dutch hospitals doubled over the past year, resulting in longer waiting lists for surgeries, broadcaster NOS reports based on its own research into staff shortages at hospitals in the Netherlands.
The death of an employee in psychiatric clinic De Kijvelanden last year, was the result of a too high workload and staff shortages, the Inspectorate for Justice and Security concludes in a draft report on the incident. There was also too little supervision on the use of medicines and the rules on letting patients use dangerous objects were not followed, the report reads, RTL Nieuws reports.
Dutch soldiers are again allowed to wear their uniforms in public. Minister Ank Bijleveld of Defense lifted the ban that was implemented in 2014 due to an increased threat of attacks on soldiers by jihadists, according to a Defense memorandum that will be published on Monday, ANP reports.
"The army has the task of protecting our kingdom and its allies. So it is also important that you are recognizable and approachable", the Minister said. According to her, the ban is being lifted at the express wish of Dutch soldiers.
The Dutch government is pushing 347 million euros into reducing staff shortages in healthcare. This money will go to training, work- and intern positions, and regional action plans, among other things, Minister Hugo de Jonge of Public Health, Welfare and Sports announced on Wednesday, ANP reports.
This year health care institutes will have to fill about 130 thousand vacancies, according to calculations by benefits agency UWV. But qualified staff is becoming increasingly difficult to find. Over the next four years, staff shortages in healthcare will increase to around 100 thousand people, according to the benefits agency, NU.nl reports.
The Marine Corps and the Army are temporarily merging companies because of staff shortages. With this solution the units can continue to follow complete training programs, but this is only a temporary patch, the Ministry of Defense confirmed to ANP.
Defense is facing a 13 percent staff shortage. The armed forces are attracting more people, but employees often only stay at Defense for a few years. Defense trained employees are attractive to other employers, and other employers can often offer better growth opportunities, according to the news wire.
Last year 41 thousand ambulances arrived at an emergency situation later than the 15 minute standard, an increase of 1,500 late arrivals compared to 2015, according to figures released by Ambulance Care Netherlands. Staff shortages are the reason behind the slower response times, union FNV Care and Welfare says, RTL Nieuws reports.
"Because there are too few employees, ambulance services are routinely eliminated. So it takes longer before an available ambulance is at the scene", an FNV spokesperson said, according to the broadcaster.
The national unit of the Dutch police is in desperate need of money and staff, and can not perform its work properly in the current situation, Richard Bronswijk, chairman of the Central Works Council, said in an interview with newspaper AD. The current situation resulted in serious criminals not being arrested in some cases, he said.
"There is a disadvantage in terms of people and organization", Bronswijk said to the newspaper. "The reorganization of the National Police was disastrous for us." He's taking the issue to the press, because otherwise nothing changes.
The Dutch police service responsible for international information exchange is facing serious staff shortages and a failing computer system, sources within the international legal aid center LIRC said to newspaper AD. The officers working in the service fear that they are missing critical tips on terrorism, according to AD.
There is a rapidly increasing shortage in construction staff in the Netherlands, according to benefits agency UWV. There is a major need for carpenters, masons and installation engineers, as well as many vacancies for preparatory construction staff like jop preparers, ANP reports.
By next year the UWV expects an increase of 30 thousand jobs for construction workers. An increase of another 4 thousand jobs is also expected for freelancers.
Union FNV Care and Welfare warns of a massive shortage in paramedics and ambulance staff in the near future. In the short term, the union is especially concerned about safety on King's Day. "Given the number of people on the move that day, it can lead to irresponsible situations", Fred Seifert of FNV said to broadcaster NOS.
The union sent a letter about the situation to Minister Edith Schippers of Public Health and the Healthcare Inspectorate, but so far got no response. Which is why FNV decided to sound the alarm in the media, Seifert said.
The police are facing shortages in people, resources and capabilities, making it impossible for them to do their jobs, according to police union ACP. And police officers have no more confidence that politicians will be able to tackle these problems, the union determined ina survey among 1,700 police officers, ANP reports.
A shortage of specialist community nurses is leading to kids having to stay longer in hospital than medically necessary. This extra time in hospital because no home care is available can easily run up to 12 weeks, according to nurses organization V&VN.
Airlines KLM, Corendon and TUIfly are expected to call on their passengers to arrive at Schiphol airport as much as four hours before their flight, instead of the standard two or three hours, because of staff shortages in the Marechaussee, the military policing force responsible for security at the airport. Long queues and delays are expected at the entrance to the secured areas of the airport, and at the passport controls for those leaving the Schengen Area.
Staff shortages at the municipal health services GGD could cause problems in the health services' ability to respond to infectious disease outbreaks. And this while the risk of such outbreaks is increasing due to people traveling more, according to a report by GGD umbrella organization GGDGHOR
The Special Intervention Service, which is used to deal with terrorists threats, is struggling with a sever staff shortage. The service currently has dozens of open vacancies, especially for members of SWAT teams, military police, snipers and marines, AD reports.
According to Marc de Natris, head of the association of naval officers KVMO, the Dutch army is not ready for a situation of war. A structural shortage of personnel and equipment has resulted in many parts not being deployable.
