Lisa Raaijmakers
Why and how mediators need to redefine their value in 2026
Temp & flex
Dec 9, 2025
The mediation industry is at a tipping point. In labor mediation, it's no longer about offering everything, but about value. Where mediators could grow for years by continuously expanding their services, it's now all about direction. Sepp Haans talked to Jeroen Müller and Bram van Beetz of Mr. Wolf about this in a podcast by Freshheads. Their message: if you want to remain relevant, you must dare to choose.
Do Everything, But Excel at Nothing
Generalists notice they are losing ground, while niche players are growing. “The biggest challenge is daring to make choices,” says Bram. “If you're used to offering full service and it's been going well for a long time, it's difficult to determine when to adjust your services. So you end up doing a bit of everything. But now that the market is normalizing, companies are forced to make choices. Those who specialize build a future-proof foundation.” Jeroen adds: “The old advantages of flex, cheap, and flexible, are disappearing. That means added value becomes the new distinction. Employers no longer hire mediators because it's cheaper, but because they better understand what their organization and people need.”
Mr. Wolf is a strategic consultancy firm, specializing in the world of contractors, staffing agencies, and HR services. Jeroen Müller and Bram van Beetz help organizations perform during growth, acquisition, integration, or restructuring moments. They combine years of experience in staffing with big names with a concrete approach: a workable plan within a hundred days, allowing teams to get to work immediately. |
A Strong Employment Mediation Strategy Begins at the Core
Sepp asks Jeroen and Bram how organizations can develop a strong strategy. According to Jeroen, it starts with the basics: truly understanding what's happening on the work floor. “Executives need to reconnect with recruiters, job seekers, and clients. Strategy doesn't develop in the boardroom, but where the work actually takes place.” At Mr. Wolf, they see three essential conditions for strategy development: determine who you want to be, where you want to play, and how you win there. Only once you know where you stand out can you remain valuable in a changing market.
Technology as Accelerator, Not Goal
Many temp and flex organizations Sepp speaks to notice that integrating new tools doesn't always have the desired effect. Bram explains: “Technology should be the rocket fuel for your strategy, not the strategy itself. We see many organizations investing in tools that are supposed to compensate for something that's not going well elsewhere. That doesn't work.”
Jeroen adds: “You as the executive need to ask yourself: what is the offline benchmark? So how are we doing now without technology and what happens when we add technology? Does it go faster, more efficiently, or does it add value for the customer? If none of these is the case, then you shouldn't apply technology in that part of the process.”
Is AI an Addition for Mediation Agencies?
When it comes to technology, the question naturally follows: what can AI mean for mediators? It offers opportunities to make processes smarter and create new services. But this only succeeds if organizations dare to experiment. “Be flexible and curious,” says Jeroen. “Try AI in small steps, see where it really adds value, and think in scenarios. Not everything has to happen all at once.”
Growth Opportunities for 2026
In the coming years, according to both gentlemen, growth for mediators doesn't lie in more people, but in smarter solutions. “Growth starts by looking outward very well, gathering knowledge, and determining where your added value lies,” says Jeroen. Bram adds: “Whoever knows how to effectively combine knowledge, technology, and capacity truly becomes distinctive. Then you not only solve your clients' problems but also make people's careers more enjoyable.” The future of employment mediation thus does not lie in yet another additional platform or yet another new contract type, but in strengthening the connection between people, organization, and technology.
Listen to the Full Podcast
Listen to the full podcast episode and discover how you, as a mediator, add value with a clear strategy, smart (AI) technology, and the courage to choose.