For practices
Hiring a self-employed dental hygienist.
Hiring a self-employed dental hygienist is quick and flexible, and for many practices the most normal thing in the world. But since the Dutch tax authority started looking more closely at false self-employment, the question has become sharper: is it actually still allowed in your situation?
Why this comes up so often.
Dental hygienists are scarce, and you notice it straight away in the waiting time for prevention. A practice that can’t get its prevention team staffed sees patients go elsewhere — and they rarely come back.
Honestly: we don’t judge on behalf of the Dutch tax authority, and we don’t give tax advice. What we do is choose the arrangement that fits how the work actually looks in the practice — and warn you when a construction doesn’t strike us as sustainable. Better that conversation up front than a back tax bill afterwards.
How it works.
We look at the actual situation
Does someone run their own schedule, set their own rate, have the right to send a substitute, work for more than one client? That determines whether it holds up as genuinely independent work.
Self-employment fits? Then we find the right contractor
From a network we know personally — not from a database of keywords.
Self-employment doesn’t fit? Then we say so
And then secondment is the alternative: the same person, a different arrangement, no discussion afterwards.
Also possible.
Hiring a locum dental hygienist
Need a locum dental hygienist for a day or a longer period? We know our locums personally and know who has room.
Seconding a dental hygienist
Seconding a dental hygienist: the person joins our payroll and works in your practice.
Recruiting a dental hygienist
Recruiting a dental hygienist for a permanent role: a practice visit first, a handful of candidates worth interviewing, and guidance through to the signature.
Hiring a self-employed dentist
The same approach, for a dentist.
Recruitment and selection in dental care
Looking for a permanent hire? This is how we approach recruitment and selection.
Frequently asked questions.
Can I still use a self-employed contractor?
As long as it is genuine self-employment, yes. But someone who is a fixed part of your rota, works under your direction and has no other clients doesn’t look self-employed — whatever the agreement is called.
What does the Dutch tax authority look at?
Mainly at the facts: is there a relationship of authority, does the work have to be done personally, and is there genuine entrepreneurial risk? The paperwork weighs less heavily than how things actually run in the practice day to day.
And if self-employment isn’t possible?
Then secondment is the route: the person joins our payroll and works in your practice. You keep the cover and the risk doesn’t sit with you.
Do you arrange the agreement?
We make sure the arrangements are clearly on paper before anyone starts: days, rate, period and substitution. For tax or legal assessment we refer you to your own adviser — that is where it belongs.
Shall we begin?
Put your question to us, or first look at who is available right now — that shows you straight away what kind of people we have in our network.