Big compliment
The jubilarians are guests at the Van den Bosch Academy, where CEO Rico Daandels opens the evening. “This feels very special every time,” says Rico. “We are a wonderful company, and that is only possible with people like you on board. The same goes for your partners. They provide a stable home base, giving you the space to put your energy into the company. That deserves a big compliment.”
Nowhere better
In a living room setting, Rico and HR Director Niels Reijnen talk to the jubilarians and retirees. All kinds of memories come up, such as the time driver Marc Habraken (25-year anniversary) accidentally locked himself in an oil shed. “Suddenly I had the handle in my hands,” laughs the jubilarian, who eventually managed to free himself with a credit card. About his work, he says: “Being a driver is really my thing, I enjoy my fixed routes and working hours. You never know how things will turn out, but I would like to retire here. I won't find anything better anywhere else.”
“I would like to retire here”
- Driver Marc Habraken
Family feeling
Mechanic Corneliu Bocan, who has reached retirement age, tells a similar story. “I don't want to stop working at all. Fortunately, I can continue to work a few hours a week. The company feels like family; there is no distance between the directors and the ‘ordinary’ employees. My dream? To continue working for a few more years and buy a small house so that I can continue to live in the Netherlands.”
Walking knowledge base
Project manager Theo van Helvoort has been a member of the Van den Bosch family for forty years. He has held a variety of positions and is blessed with an ironclad memory, which has earned him a reputation as a veritable walking knowledge base. “I enjoy helping others,” he says. “The great thing about our company is that you can develop here, both professionally and personally. But I think personal attention is even more important. Everyone wants to be heard, seen and appreciated. And you can feel that on an evening like this.”
“Everyone wants to be heard, seen and appreciated”
- Project Manager Theo van Helvoort
Social company
Retired driver Dicky Klein Hazebroek is also enjoying himself. “This evening suits Van den Bosch. I think it's a very social employer. Even when I was going through a difficult time in my private life, I could count on support from the company.” Dicky enjoyed his many years on the road. “As a driver, you visit different countries, see the most beautiful landscapes and build great relationships with customers and fellow drivers. Will I miss the work? Certain things, yes, but everything comes to an end. It's time for other things.”
Always on the move
Director of Business Development Paul van de Vorle has been enjoying the company's dynamic atmosphere for a quarter of a century. “It's never boring here; no two days are the same. As an international company, Van den Bosch is always on the move. That's why it's useful to be flexible and able to deal with change. The family atmosphere is a stable factor, though. When I talk about Van den Bosch, I always refer to it as ‘my company’. That's how it really feels. I've been working here for 25 years now and I'm still really enjoying it.”
