Queen Máxima on a working visit to VDL Group

Queen Máxima attended a meeting of the National Coalition for Financial Health today at the VDL Groep headquarters. She spoke with several representatives from companies at VDL Groep about their roles regarding financial health and the implementation of the National Coalition for Financial Health.

The topic of financial worries still carries a significant stigma. Companies therefore want to learn from each other how they can actively identify financial issues among employees or what they can do to make a lasting difference to employees struggling with money concerns.

Jennifer van der Leegte (CEO of VDL Groep and also board member of Partnerfonds Brainport Eindhoven) joined the meeting from VDL Groep. 'As employers, we must not turn a blind eye to this issue. We often spot problems first on the shop floor, and we can offer a listening ear and targeted help to prevent things from worsening. We live in a thriving region and a beautiful country. Sustainable financial health must be a prerequisite. As companies, as government, or as the National Coalition for Financial Health, we need to take up this challenge.'

Elvis Martis (team leader at VDL Special Vehicles) ensures that employees with financial worries do not become isolated and that they feel at home at work at VDL Groep. 'I am not the mother or father of our employees. But I am the team leader. We are in this together'.

Photo 2: (from left) Staf Depla, Chairman of the Partner Fund Brainport Eindhoven, interviews lead Elvis Martis about how to identify financial worries among employees.