Flexibility in healthcare: management, technology, and the power of platforms

"Caregivers want a nice place to work and the feeling that they make an impact. It is less about the contract form and more about the work environment and appreciation.” Huub Landman knows this. As director of two special companies, he has both the perspective of a care employer and that of a mediator. Living with the Family is a care organization that focuses on the elderly with dementia and facilitates suitable care homes. Standby Zorg is an online matching platform that connects self-employed caregivers with care organizations.

Unrest

Many current labor market themes play a role in care. Personnel shortages that are only getting bigger, the need for flexibility from employers, the need for control over how and when to work from professionals. And a government trying to reduce the number of self-employed.

Enforcement on pseudo-self-employment causes a lot of uncertainty among self-employed in care, Huub observes. “You notice a lot of unrest among caregivers because they don't know exactly what the future holds. Some are considering becoming employees, but others want to remain self-employed because they value that freedom.”

Huub does see an increase in the number of self-employed responding to a project on his platform, a possible sign that supply exceeds demand. But assignments for self-employed are still available. Care organizations still have a continuous need for agility. The ability to quickly respond to changing capacity demands is crucial, Huub explains.

The role of platforms in a fragmented labor market

Both Sepp and Huub see a lasting role for self-employment in the labor market, including in care. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that self-employed are seen as a necessary evil. People consciously choose this, often because of the freedom and entrepreneurship,” states Sepp.

Therefore, according to Huub, limiting the number of people who want to work in care is also the wrong course. “We must use the existing care capacity more effectively and reduce outflow, without forcing into a certain contract form.” This flexibility can only be achieved by making smart use of technology and data.

This is where the power of platforms like Freshheads comes to fruition. Sepp explains: “What we do with Freshheads is to build platforms that enable peer-to-peer mediation. This means direct interaction between candidates and employers, without too much intermediary intervention.”

The idea is not only to bring supply and demand together but also to create a community where co-creation and transparency are central. “The labor market is becoming increasingly fragmented with a growing demand for flexibility. Platforms can facilitate this through digitization and data insights,” says Sepp.

Sector expertise as added value

What Standby Zorg adds to the platform is valuable sector expertise. The platform itself must make it as easy as possible for clients and contractors to find each other and facilitate around that. Standby Zorg subsequently uses its sector knowledge to build a community of candidates. Sepp emphasizes: “Technology is a commodity; the real value comes from clients like Standby Zorg, who dare to experiment, are innovative, and focus on the needs of self-employed and employers.”

Future: regional collaboration and hybrid models

The future of care requires a hybrid staffing model in which permanent, flex workers, and self-employed reinforce each other. Platforms can play a role in regional cooperation and the exchange of staff. “We already see initiatives where care institutions collaborate within a region to exchange care capacity. Platforms can make this scalable,” says Sepp.

And this certainly does not have to remain limited to the care sector. Sepp: “Ensure that you are an attractive brand and a place where people like to come. Build a community that collects and uses data for better services.”

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