Unsafe working climate

There is an unsafe working climate at the aid organization for allowance parents.

Crying employees, apparently the managers, appear to be the order of the day at the Implementation Organization for Recovery of Allowances.

Emiel HakkenesMay 9, 2025, 16:00

There is an internal climate of fighting and harassment when organizing the affected parents of the benefits scandal. This is evident from a study commissioned by the Ministry of Finance. Consultancy firm Berenschot speaks of “open quarrels in the workplace” and “(sexual) harassment” at the Rotterdam office of the Implementation Organization for the Recovery of Surcharges (UHT).

The UHT was founded in 2020 and has the task of helping tens of thousands of parents through the tax authorities who are temporary victims of childcare allowance fraud. The UHT falls under the Ministry of Finance and employs more than 2300 people at fourteen offices across the country.

Unwanted behavior

At the beginning of last year, UHT employees in Rotterdam told the FNV trade union that there would be an “unsafe work situation” and “unwanted behavior” at their office. The Ministry of Finance then called in Berenschot. The office was completed in December, but it was only this week that it appeared on the national government's website. It has not been sent to the House of Representatives.

It research report concludes that “incidents” have occurred at the Rotterdam office. There is talk of “gossip”, “manipulation” and “distrust”. Managers impossible against employees. Employees of non-Western origin have experienced discrimination. Some employees report illegal advances to their address.

Rotterdam is the hotspot

“This report is shocking,” responds FNV director Jasper de Jong. “But compared to what employees have told us, it's not mild.” According to De Jong, Rotterdam is no exception, and plays the same at other UHT locations. “The research focused on Rotterdam, because that was the hotspot for us.”

According to De Jong, the researchers got a valuable picture of the situation because the UHT employees feel most unsafe now that they have left, voluntarily and involuntarily. Employees would also have been told that they are obliged to talk to their manager first before they should speak to the Berenschot researchers. According to De Jong, that has made people head shy.

Told hurtfully about parents

Based on conversations with UHT employees, the researchers note that it is' likely 'that the Rotterdam office 'is remarkable about the benefits affair and/or about allowance parents' in a way that is hurtful to people. For example, several employees said that a trainer who gave an induction course to new colleagues said “the benefits affair did not exist and/or is a figment of The Hague's politics”. Trade unionist De Jong called that performance “scandalous”.

According to a preliminary report by Finance, the commissioner of the investigation, the ministry does not know which trainer will decide when to act. “That's why we can't take action.” The fact that the report was only published after months is, according to the confirmed reason, “that we want to include everyone”. About sending the report to the House of Representatives, he says: “Not everything has to go to the House”. According to the reliable one, the report should be a reason for the UHT to put things in order.

The FNV believes this is urgently needed, at all UHT locations. De Jong: “Ensure a safe, transparent and equitable work environment for all employees.”

It comes as no surprise to Natasja Soemai, board member of the Equal Recovery Foundation (SGH), that the UHT would suggest that the benefits scandal is a figment. “Denial of parents' distress has been at the heart of the whole affair for years.”

SGH is the foundation that assists allowance parents, co-founded by Princess Laurentien. “The UHT focuses on returning stolen money,” says Soemai. “But parents also want to be seen as people and need emotional recognition. The UHT has never been able to offer that before.”

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