A significant shift is coming for employers across Europe with the impending transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive. Monica De Jonghe from the Federation of Belgian Enterprises (VBO-FEB) provided an in-depth, though challenging, analysis of the directive, highlighting key obligations, risks, and the path forward for businesses, particularly in Belgium. This article is an overview of what she said during the Hrpro conference on October 17, 2025. The Directive: A Complex New System While the VBO-FEB fully supports the directive's objective—equal pay for equal work to address the gender pay gap and combat discrimination—the implementation presents a complex challenge. The directive, published in May 2023, must be transposed into national law by June, 2026. A major point of contention is the detail and lack of flexibility in the directive, leaving "little leeway for negotiation during transposition," making it feel more like a regulation than a directive. This issue is compound

Reflections from the HRPro Conference — October 17, 2025 Speaker: David D’Souza, CIPD Director of Profession Report by HRPro.be. On October 17, 2025, leaders and practitioners from across Belgium and beyond gathered in Brussels for the HRPro Conference, a moment to reflect not only on what is changing in the world of work, but also on what this means for the HR profession itself. Among the voices on stage was David D’Souza, Director of Profession at the CIPD, who offered a provocative and generous exploration of where HR stands today — and where it must go next. What follows is a reflection on the ideas he shared. How do we respond to change? The HR profession stands at a critical point. For years, we’ve talked about the future of work, the impact of technology, the evolving expectations of employees, and the pressure on organizations to adapt. Today, that future is no longer something distant. It is arriving — unevenly, unpredictably, and sometimes uncomfortably — but it is here. The

Hrpro.be welcomed the delegates of the European Association of People Management (EAPM) the day before the conference. They attended the conference together with members of the HR community in Belgium. During the international conference, many speakers were stressing the need for balance and courage. “Hold the line and be prepared”, Berna Oztinaz (picture), the president of the European Association of People Management (EAPM), told the international audience. “As a profession, we need to stand for both values and business outcomes”, said David D’Souza, Director of profession at the CIPD. “We should focus on more than only productivity when dealing with people”, said Shuming Fan, PhD Researcher at Ghent University, when discussing the disappointment people have concerning meritocracy. She also presented an alternative model for capability development that goed beyond productivity. Chris Engels (Claeys & Engels) warned the HR community about the pipeline of regulations the EU is developi

Ruhig Bleiben [Brussels, October 17, 2025] – The Belgian Association of HR Professionals, hrpro.be, proudly presented its HR Hero Award to Erik Prieels during its annual international conference. This distinguished award celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of human resources, exemplifying leadership, innovation, and dedication to advancing HR practices. About the award Each year, the HR Hero Award honors an individual whose exceptional efforts in practice, teaching, research, or thought leadership have significantly advanced the growth and development of the HR profession. Rather than being the result of a competitive process, the award serves as a heartfelt recognition of the recipient’s enduring impact and their commitment to the values of the HR community. The recipient holds the lifetime title of HR Hero, a distinction that reflects their ongoing dedication to the core principles and integrity of the HR profession. This year, Erik Prieels was

On October 16, the European Association of People Management has gathered in Brussels during their annual delegates meeting. Delegates from more than 25 countries joined in person for the annual meeting. Others joined online. The European Association of People Management is the umbrella Association for HR Associations in Europe. Since 2018, hrpro.be is the representative of Belgium in that association and is a full member. Before that, PM club was the affiliated member. Also the CIPD in the UK and Ireland are member. In the morning, the formal Assembly is held. And in the afternoon, the delegates engage in experience exchange, and building content. It was remarkable how often the discussion came back to human behavior and leadership. "This is the essence of HR" was one of the common conclusions.

De eerste langdurig werklozen ontvingen onlangs een brief met de melding dat hun werkloosheidsuitkering zou worden stopgezet. Dat bericht sloeg in als een bom. Voor sommigen voelt het alsof de grond onder hun voeten wegzakt. Het leidde tot emotionele reacties: mensen die radeloos zijn en niet weten waarheen of wat ze nu moeten doen. De individuele verhalen roepen uiteenlopende emoties op. Sommigen zijn opgelucht dat er eindelijk paal en perk gesteld wordt aan de onbeperkte duurtijd van de werkloosheidsuitkering. Anderen leven mee met mensen die op latere leeftijd plots hun inkomen zien terugvallen. Beide reacties zijn legitiem. Het probleem ligt niet zozeer bij de mensen die soms twintig jaar op een uitkering konden rekenen. Het probleem zit in het systeem dat toeliet dat mensen zich konden nestelen in een situatie die op korte termijn comfort bracht, maar hen op lange termijn gevangen hield. Een werkloosheidsuitkering is nooit bedoeld geweest als een basisinkomen tot aan het pensioen