Telework has helped a lot during the crisis. One to two days of teleworking per week could become the norm in many sectors, which would also be useful for a better combination of work and private life, Hoffmann stated. But much more would not necessarily be good, the director of the Chamber of Employees added.
The reason for this, according to Hoffmann, is that too many days of teleworking run the risk of being detrimental to “company culture” and “maintaining the social value of work”. In addition, working from home for prolonged periods of time comes with its own disadvantages, he stated.
Luxembourg’s trade unions still view the compulsory CovidCheck regime at work, which will come into force on 15 January, with scepticism. Especially at the beginning, there is a risk of “chaotic situations” either during the check itself or in regard to testing capacities, Hoffmannn explained. For the director of the Chamber of Employees, it remains a “socially unfair” measure, with Hoffmann pointing out that those with higher incomes can afford to be tested more.
If the measure is justified from a medical point of view, it would be a good thing if the duration of isolation after an infection could be reduced, Hoffmann stated. Because of the Omicron variant, the number of infections is increasing and there is a risk of sudden staff shortages at work.
The latest ‘Quality of Work Index’ shows how stressful the current situation is for many employees. The Chamber of Employees carries out this representative survey every year. The data for last summer are not yet published. But they indicate that the negative developments, which started before the pandemic, have intensified, Hoffmann stated. Burnout and depression are likely to become more and more of a problem, with 40% of employees stating that they fear burnout or depression. 15% even think that they themselves are at high risk of developing depression. 6% of employees have also had suicidal thoughts.
“These are worrying trends,” Hoffmann said. Psychosocial risks at work are still often taken lightly. However, preventive action is needed, in the same way as it is for physical risks at the workplace, Hoffmann stressed.
The effects of inflation are being felt, and purchasing power is increasingly becoming a problem, according to the director of the Chamber of Employees, who criticised that the tax burden is increasing. The Chamber of Commerce previously asked for a revision of the indexation system with the removal of tobacco, alcohol, and partly energy from the basket of goods. For Sylvain Hoffmann, this does not make sense. The index reflects “what people consume” and should not be “an instrument of health or climate policy”.
