Equal pay, latest news.
EQUAL REWARDS, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
What does “equal pay” mean for principals?
As of Jan. 1, 2026, something fundamental is changing in the world of flex work. The familiar hirer compensation will give way to a new principle: equal pay. And that has a direct impact on clients.
What exactly is changing?
Whereas previously the focus was on a limited number of compensation components (such as wages and benefits), soon it will be on the total benefits package.
That means that as a client you no longer just look at:
- hourly wage
- overtime bonuses
But to the full value of what a permanent employee gets, such as:
- salary and pay scales
- vacations and vacation pay
- bonuses or profit distributions
- pension plans
- mobility and home office allowances
- training budgets
The bottom line:
👉 A flex worker should be rewarded comparably in total value to a permanent colleague in a similar position.
From ‘equal pay’ to ‘equal total package’
The difference from the old arrangement is significant:
- Through 2025: focus on some fixed wage components
- From 2026: focus on the total value of all working conditions
In other words, from “equal pay for equal work” to “equal total package for similar work.”
What does this mean for you as a client?
This change makes the playing field fairer, but also more complex.
You must as an organization:
- Have full insight into your own working conditions
- Be able to translate these into a similar package for flex workers
- be more aware of differences between permanent and flex
Why this legislation?
The new rules are there to:
- Reduce differences between permanent and flex
- prevent unfair competition
- better protect flex workers
And this is probably just the beginning. Regulations around flexible work are expected to be further tightened in the coming years.
What can you do right now?
Smart clients are not waiting until 2026, but are preparing now:
- map your working conditions
- check where differences are
- make sure your processes are set up accordingly
In short: flexibility remains important, but it becomes fairer and more transparent.
And that requires a new way of working together.
