A new reality of work and structural changes in the labour market are having profound implications for the traditional employment model, says Denis Pennel, managing director, European Confederation of Private Employment Agencies (Eurociett).

Based on a presentation in Brussels given to the European Business Services Roundtable at the beginning of December, Pennel tells Recruiter that two major trends are at work (see below the ad):

Destandardisation of the labour market

“We are seeing the end of the old unique model, where everybody had a personal, full time direct employment relationship with an organisation,” he says. 

Increasingly, Pennel says both employees and employers want relationships that are tailor made and flexible. This is seen in the growing diversity of contractual arrangements, with some colleagues in the same workplace being on temporary contracts, others working as sub-contractors, and others provided by suppliers, he says. 

Individualisation of the employment relationship

More and more people want to be able to express themselves at work, want work to be meaningful and a means towards self-fulfillment, says Pennel. They also want more flexible ways of working, he adds.

“The labour market is probably the last area in our society that has not totally adapted to this individualisation,” says Pennel, who goes on to warn that “an employer with the same employment package for everyone is no longer relevant”. For example, he says one worker might not wish to have a company car because they prefer to cycle and would like extra benefits in return, while another would like a higher salary but is prepared to accept lower benefits.

Pennel says that staffing companies have a vital role in intermediating between the needs of individuals and the requirements of employers. 

For more from Pennel, see the January issue of Recruiter.