OR Newsflash
Autumn training
During the busiest morning rush hour of 2024, the OR members left for the Nomade Beach House in Noordwijk for the annual autumn training. Due to the traffic, it took a little longer than planned for all members to be present, but around ten o'clock the training finally started, led by John Snel from SBI.
We started with an exercise with the aim of evaluating the last six months and were divided into four groups. Each group was given the assignment to report something positive (a compliment), to make a critical note, to name a received wisdom and to give good advice to the OR. After the group discussion of all the answers, more good conversations started about internal improvements and the availability of the OR members for requests for advice or approval. A useful start!
“A compliment, a critical note, a received wisdom and a good piece of advice”
Then it was time for a light-hearted game in which we had to guess the preferences of the individual Works Council members in various areas. I can say that few were guessed correctly right away and that it took a long time before the right people were found for the given answers. We don't know each other well enough yet, was the general conclusion.
Work pressure
A long and sometimes intense discussion started about the pressure within the Works Council and how we can deal with it. Many applications are processed by the same people and the new Works Council members felt little involved in this. A new working method was agreed, so that different members can be heard in new applications. In addition, we agreed to share the agenda items of the Technical Consultation (between the Executive Board of the Works Council and the director) within the Works Council.
International constituency
We also talked about our increasingly international team and, because we now have a non-Dutch-speaking Works Council member, the language at meetings and our publications. It was agreed to take more consideration of non-Dutch-speaking people and translate our publications into English as much as possible.
Johan in the spotlight
At the end of the afternoon, our former chairman Johan Holierhoek came by to officially say goodbye as a Works Council member. His knowledge, expertise and sincerity will be greatly missed within our group! With Johan present, we concluded the day with a delicious dinner, during which he was put even more in the spotlight. The intensity of the discussions held during the day was quickly forgotten. However, the agreements made remain and are already being implemented – a great result of this training day.
Robert Koelewijn
Experienced Analyst JJT - Member of the PR committee Works Council