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Working hours calculator
13th of October 2025 Article by John GriepFrom the Netherlands, John Griep at VSR explains how a new working hours calculator for the
cleaning industry can offer clarity on work, income and employability.
Flexible contracts, irregular schedules, and part-time work have long been characteristic of the cleaning sector. At the same time, financial considerations are playing an increasingly significant role in decisions around increasing or reducing working hours. This topic was addressed in depth during VSR’s Spring Event, where a speaker from Nibud presented the benefits of a digital calculation tool: the Working Hours Calculator. This tool clearly illustrates the net effect of working more or fewer hours.
Specifically designed for the cleaning industry
In collaboration with cleaning services provider CSU, Nibud - a Dutch independent knowledge and advisory institute on household finances - has developed a tailored version of the Working Hours Calculator specifically for the cleaning sector.
In five clear steps, cleaning operatives gain insight into the impact of their contracted hours on their net income. The tool factors in allowances, taxes, fixed expenses and income-related benefits. This creates a realistic, personal overview of what a change in working hours will actually mean financially.
From individual decision to shared dialogue
The strength of this tool lies not only in the insights it provides to individual employees but also in how it facilitates dialogue within cleaning organisations. Staff can use the results to have well-informed conversations about contract hours, scheduling preferences or development opportunities. In turn, HR professionals and supervisors gain better understanding of the financial realities behind employees’ choices.
Supporting professional and sustainable working practices
The practical benefits of the Working Hours Calculator align closely with VSR’s vision for professionalisation, transparency, and sustainable employability. By making use of objective, user-friendly tools, employees are not only empowered, but the quality of working relationships is also enhanced. It is a clear example of how job-specific support can go hand in hand with personal development.
As the VSR Human & Labour Market Committee states: “We are increasingly focused on the importance of guiding cleaning personnel from the moment they are hired right through to retirement, and potentially even beyond. For this, we are currently developing digital tools and suitable information.”
A practical tool with broad impact
The sector-specific version of the Working Hours Calculator provides both employees and organisations in the cleaning industry with an accessible way to understand working hours and their financial implications. By simplifying complex financial arrangements into practical insights, the tool supports both individual decision-making and constructive dialogue between employee and employer. This makes it a valuable addition in a sector where clarity and coordination around employability are becoming ever more important.