What effect does coro­na­vi­rus have on workplaces?

On 16 March 2020, the Finnish Govern­ment decla­red a state of emer­gency for the first time since the Second World War. The coro­na­vi­rus pande­mic demands extraor­di­nary measu­res to protect people and keep the country functioning.

15.4.2020

The measu­res have an effect on working places of the Industrial Union members, too. Every­one who can is encou­ra­ged to work from home in order to dimi­nish the risk of infec­tion, but with industrial jobs this is often not possible. If agreed with the emplo­yer working from home, then pay should remain the same as it is normally.

A fear of beco­ming ill or sick is not reason enough to stay home from work. This is only possible if agreed with the emplo­yer. In normal cases staying at home through perso­nal choice is not paid.

If the emplo­yer forbids an emplo­yee to come to work, a normal wage or salary must be paid.

Even in times of a pande­mic emplo­yers can not unila­te­rally reduce, move or with­draw appro­ved annual leave. All chan­ges need the accep­tance of the employee.

WHAT IS QUARANTINE?

Infec­ted people might be requi­red to go into quaran­tine. This means isola­tion from other people, usually at home, for a certain time. The deci­sion is made by a doctor who is respon­sible for infec­tious disease control.

Kela, the Social Insu­rance Insti­tu­tion of Finland can pay sick­ness allowance for those emplo­yees in quaran­tine. To receive this, isola­tion is requi­red and going to work is not allowed. A doctor’s order is neces­sary for such a quarantine.

The allowance is as much as the loss of earnings. Quaran­tine is not the same thing as the recom­men­da­tion of the Govern­ment to stay at home for two weeks after retur­ning to Finland from abroad.

TEMPORARILY LAY-OFFS AND REDUNDANCY

A big number of tempo­rary lay-offs is to be expec­ted, and there is even the possi­bi­lity of redun­dancies (losing one’s job permanently).

On 18 March, the labour market orga­ni­sa­tions agreed that in these excep­tio­nal circums­tances the normally requi­red two weeks nego­tia­tion time for tempo­rary lay-offs should be cut to five days in the private sector.

The law has now been amen­ded accor­dingly and the Industrial Union has made simi­lar chan­ges in its collec­tive agree­ments. These chan­ges will last until the tempo­rary chan­ges in the labour legis­la­tion remain in effect, which is until the end of June this year.

If an emplo­yer hires new staff, they have an obli­ga­tion to offer jobs first to those former emplo­yees made redun­dant from simi­lar jobs. Now, in the amen­ded law and Industrial Union collec­tive agree­ments, this time has been exten­ded tempo­ra­rily to nine months from the previous four to six months.

Those facing tempo­rary lay-offs can get unemplo­y­ment bene­fit from the Industrial Union unemplo­y­ment fund. The Union Fund will help in case of redun­dancies, too. Please see details on their web page. The infor­ma­tion is also in English.

The Fund says that it is prepa­red for situa­tions caused by the virus. They are ready to handle a growing number of applica­tions and their own finances are solid.

UNION CANCELS SEVERAL EVENTS

As public gathe­rings are likely to increase the risk of infec­tion, the Industrial Union has cancel­led all events and trai­ning until the end of June. For the time being, the Union regio­nal offices will not give face-to-face member services.

The situa­tion is chan­ging all the time and the chan­ges can be drama­tic and quick. It is good to follow of all official guidance for the latest information.

Finnish insti­tute for health and welfare.

TEXT HEIKKI JOKINEN