'Healthy and happy staff'

Staff at the Directorate of Legal Affairs (JZ) ensure that IND decisions are legally sound, as well as representing the IND in court. Evelien advises and supports the management team on all Human Resourcesrelated matters.Including training and development, recruitment, and preventing sickness absence. Her role involves developing plans and putting them into practice to make sure that work at the directorate remains manageable and enjoyable for all. "I care deeply about the health and well-being of staff, because people who love what they do produce the best results." 

The driving force behind the directorate

Staff advisers are given a lot of responsibility and latitude, Evelien explains. "It is a very enjoyable role, as I bear full responsibility for my own projects, from start to finish. I get to present my proposals to the management team, which can be nerve-racking at times, because you put a lot of time into a proposal. "A lot of work is done behind the scenes before anyone ever sees a proposal." 

More staff needed

Evelien's directorate will soon be in need of additional staff, as the European Pact on Asylum and Migration  (link only available in Dutch)  is set to enter into force in six months' time and reshape asylum procedures. Together with the IND recruitment and communications team, Evelien works on ways to attract new colleagues. “For example, by offering more internships and by visiting universities and job fairs with our Legal Affairs ambassadors, such as the Utrecht Business Day  (link only available in Dutch)  or the National Career Fair, (link only available in Dutch) ” she explains. “There we explain what our work involves and try to spark students’ interest in working for the IND.” 

More exercise as a team 

While the six JZ staff advisers work closely together, they each have their own tasks and responsibilities. Evelien's remit includes projects that strengthen connections within the directorate, such as the walking challenge. "Ah, that was a major success!", Evelien remembers. "We all went outside more and virtually walked from The Hague to Paris together. Last year, the goal was a digital tour past all the courts in the Netherlands. Colleagues walked individually or in teams, with some people even getting their steps in in the middle of the night, just so they could cross the finish line first. Initiatives like these are incredibly motivating and raise everyone's energy levels!" 

Talking about dilemmas 

“Our people work hard and are deeply committed to what they do,” Evelien says. “The work can be demanding, and some of the stories you encounter really stay with you.” She knows this from experience, having started at the IND as a legal representative who defended IND decisions in court. “People in Legal Affairs need to know they can rely on us. We aim to create a culture where colleagues and managers can discuss complex issues and sensitive topics openly and safely.” 

Taking care of everything, big and small

But not all Evelien's projects are as far-reaching: when December comes, it's up to her to order chocolate letters for Sinterklaas, for example. Famously, she once ordered 300 instead of 30. "It was a running joke for quite some time," she laughs. 

Meeting in person and showing appreciation

"People in Legal Affairs are often on the move," Evelien explains", whether we arere attending court hearings, working from home or in a meeting somewhere else. That's why it is also important to see each other in person too." The annual Legal Affairs awards ceremony, always a great time to catch up, has already become a tradition.
"It is a fun event at which we present awards in various categories to employees," Evelien explains. "Colleagues nominate each other, for categories like "most inspiring colleague" or "best Legal Affairs ambassador". There are also awards for team of the year and location of the year, as our staff are spread across various IND sites." Events like those are a great time to recognise everyone's commitment and thank people for their hard work. They reinforce the feeling that we're in it together."

From legal representative to staff adviser

The IND also offers plenty of room for personal development. Having enjoyed working as a legal representative for many years, Evelien was given the opportunity to broaden her role. “I wanted to move away from purely legal work, so I joined the staff participation committee, which is part of the works council," she explains. “I believe it is important to strike the right balance between the interests of employees and those of the organisation. Through this role, I gained insight into operations at IND." After that, Evelien was given the opportunity to move into a staff position. “It is hard to keep count of all the new skills I developed in this role. At the IND, you can keep growing.”