‘Getting back to good work with work that suits my situation’

Bianca Menzel (42) works as a planner at the Rootz music school. She does this part-time so that she can also take care of her son. When her relationship and then her job ended 4 years ago, she had to reorganise her life. “It is nice that I got some support at Werkse!.”

Bianca: “I completed a higher professional education in social pedagogical care. This allows you to work in youth care, for example. But I chose a different path: I found a job as a planner in healthcare. I did that for 15 years in total. It was a very busy job where I worked many hours. And I also felt the high workload. The care that is provided is of vital importance to many clients. And then a planning error can have major consequences.”

In the Sickness Benefits Act
Four years ago, Bianca was doing badly for a while. “My relationship had broken down and at some point my contract expired. I had symptoms that resembled burnout. I ended up on sick leave for a period and started therapy. That made me more aware, also of what I was looking for in a new job. I am responsible for my son and had to find a new balance. That is why I had to look for work that suited this situation.”

Self-confidence undermined
She received help with that from Werkse! when she ended up on welfare. “With my consultant Marissa, from the single parents team, I immediately felt at ease,” says Bianca. “She understands that you cannot fall back on a partner and showed understanding. I tried to find work in jobs that matched my education. But because I had no work experience in that, I was rejected time and again. That undermined my self-confidence. I thought ‘where is my place in this society?’”

A job by chance
Fortunately, Bianca’s consultant helped her further. “Our conversations helped us determine the direction and we looked at and responded to vacancies. The funny thing is that I found my current job more or less by chance. I looked at the website of the Rootz music school because I was looking for music lessons for my son. There was a vacancy for a part-time planner. I can do that! So I immediately wrote an application letter and was invited for an interview. And I now work there two days a week.”

Helping on her way
Werkse! also used resources to help Bianca on her way. “My son goes to after-school care two afternoons. A reimbursement for these costs could be used via Werkse!. A scheme was also used that offers an advantage for my employer. I also have guidance from a job coach. I was completely open about this at Rootz and my employer was fine with that. I am happy that I was given such an opportunity and after a trial month I was hired.”

Unpredictable work
If things are not going well at work, Bianca can discuss this with her job coach. “We talked about my pitfalls beforehand. As a planner, a large part of your work is unpredictable. My pitfall is my sense of responsibility. I am very precise in my work and I put myself aside. If something has to be finished, I stay a bit longer. Then the pressure keeps piling up. I have learned that I can be a bit nicer to myself. And that is easier to do in this work environment than in healthcare.”

Increasingly more familiarized
However, Bianca also had some worries in her new job. “One day I went home with a bad feeling because everything went wrong. From a broken printer to all kinds of unexpected situations, which meant I couldn’t finish the work completely. ‘Don’t worry,’ my employer said, ‘this happens to all of us sometimes.’ It was nice that he understood and could reassure me. The next working day everything went fine again. So I shouldn’t immediately get depressed about that. In the meantime, I have been largely familiarized and I am being given additional tasks.”

Showing myself
Bianca sees herself doing this work for a long time. “It is a nice environment, with a good working atmosphere in which I have contact with the music teachers and students. I find those social contacts important. And it is nice that I can show another part of myself besides being a mother. My son had to get used to it, but he now appreciates the moments that we are together more.” And maybe he will see his mother at work when he goes to lessons? Bianca laughs. “Who knows! In the meantime, he is still on the waiting list, because piano lessons are popular!”

Photo: Alyssa van Heyst