Ukrainian newcomer stumbles over ‘invisible’ workplace rules: ‘It’s less hierarchical here’ | Work

Although this is not yet properly arranged in all places, refugees from Ukraine receive 260 euros per person from the Dutch government each month to buy food, clothing and other personal items. Part of this can also be paid in kind, such as for food or shelter. In this case, a refugee receives 55 euros to spend on clothing or other personal items.

But most Ukrainian refugees prefer to be financially independent, says Pieter Vermeer of the JobOn Foundation, a network organization for job seekers. “They want their own income. In addition, their children go to school in the Netherlands. They are bored at the reception locations or with host families and want to make themselves useful.”

Ukrainians no longer need a work permit to start work since April 1. But how do you find work, how do you get a job in a foreign country? JobOn tries to answer these questions through webinars especially for Ukrainian refugees.

Patrisia Taekema is one of the experts who voluntarily participates in the webinars. Taekema is a career coach and guides many employees with an Eastern European background. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, she has been helping refugees in the Netherlands with all kinds of practical matters.

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She immediately noticed that there are many questions about work among them. In order to guide as many refugees as possible to a job, she decided to join the JobOn initiative. The language barrier is the biggest problem for many refugees, says Taekema. “Many refugees don’t speak English, which makes it very difficult to get a job.” Vermeer sees that too. “Two thirds of the refugees can only speak Ukrainian or Russian. Then you have to look for a job in which language does not play a role. Those are often the practical jobs.”

For example, Ukrainian refugees who do not speak English can work as cleaners. Vermeer: ​​,,But that feels disparaging to many people. We try to give them a positive feeling: it is easy work, you can also do it for a few hours a day, making it easy to combine for mothers with small children.”

Taekema specializes in the psychological side of work and knows what working below the level of education can do to someone. ,,It is very sad if, for example, you had a good career as a lawyer, you know everything about Ukrainian law. But that is of little use in the Netherlands. It then helps not to identify with your work. What does a job actually say about you, what does it say if you do cleaning work? In the end, you are much more than your work.”

According to the coach, the main thing is that refugees start work as soon as possible when they are ready, even if you can only do ‘easy’ work. “That period when you are out of work can work against you enormously. You get the feeling that you can do nothing more and that you are worth less.” Going to work also means that you are part of society, says Taekema. ,,You are among the people, hear the language. That is also very valuable.”

Vermeer sees that some Ukrainian refugees find a job fairly quickly, either through or because they have work experience in a favorable industry. “Most highly educated knowledge workers will find their way. Especially people with a background in IT often find a job.”

Ukrainians who find it more difficult to find a job should certainly not accept everything they are offered, says Vermeer. “You can have some requirements and wishes. There are cowboys active who think: finally extra, inexpensive hands to fill all shortages. Sometimes an offer is too good to be true, then someone is offered a nice salary and a house right away. We therefore inform the refugees about Dutch contracts and salaries.”

In addition to the dangers, the Ukrainians are also pointed out by JobOn to the cultural differences that they can encounter. Vermeer: ​​”The Dutch are a lot more direct and the workplace is less hierarchical.” Taekema explains that management methods are very different in the Netherlands than in Eastern Europe. Your boss will tell you what to do there. In the Netherlands, organizations are much flatter. The manager is much more of a part of the team. He expects your input, wants you to have an opinion and think along.’

According to Taekema, many Eastern Europeans who go to work in the Netherlands run into these kinds of ‘invisible’ rules. “In the Netherlands you have to express yourself, show yourself, take a position. We will think of people from Eastern Europe that they have no opinion or that they do not even know what they are doing because they are not so quick to speak out. If you know those differences, you understand each other’s reaction much better. This way you can prevent miscommunication in the workplace.”

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