It was not lacking. Again Thursday evening, the Prime Minister called on employers to strengthen teleworking to fight against covid. The latest study by the Institut Pasteur quantifying at 29% the contaminations that take place at work, “This pleads so that in the coming weeks all companies and administrations [en] do a maximum “, said Jean Castex. If the one-day face-to-face valve is maintained, “Many companies are still far away today” to have sent home all employees who could work at home, according to the head of government.
Plan d’action
The health protocol may well ask to favor teleworking, some employers continue to resist. Three sectors were even the subject of a special call to order from Elisabeth Borne: banking, insurance and advice.
Will the prefects themselves take their phones to call the recalcitrant? In any case, an instruction signed by the Ministers of the Interior, of Labor and of the transformation of the public service intended for the representatives of the State in the regions and departments broadcast on Friday asks those concerned by the new “confinement” to get hold of the file. They will have to “Put in place an action plan aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the use of teleworking and allowing the full application of the rules set in this area”.
This plan “May in particular provide, for the private sector, for more systematic contacts with companies that may have recourse to teleworking and awareness-raising actions aimed at the general public, social partners and chambers of commerce”, is it specified and the prefects will also have to produce a “Regular follow-up” the evolution of teleworking.
While the epidemic has accelerated, the extent of teleworking is stagnating in the private sector. According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the Ministry of Labor from March 8 to 14, 12% of employees said they used it and 58% face-to-face five days out of five, 20% mixing the two formulas. The proportions are identical to those for the week of January 18 to 24. The survey shows in passing a rise in the feeling of isolation and anxiety of employees who teleworked during the week, a sign that the difficulty does not come only from employers.
To increase teleworking, the prefects have the means: controls, reminds the instruction addressed to them. The weapon is however complex to use. Fifty-five have been carried out since October, according to the labor ministry.
Support
The government is also relying on support, a track also mentioned in the instruction and that the Ministry of Labor reminded on Friday in a tweet to small and medium-sized enterprises that they could get help from the National Agency for the Improvement of working conditions.
# telecommuting ???? l Are you a business owner of a very small business or an SME? As part of the fight against the covid 19 epidemic, free support exists to help you set up telework whenever possible.
Learn more ➡ https://t.co/jQowVwq1D9– Ministry of Labor (@Travail_Gouv) March 19, 2021
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On the civil service side, teleworking has increased since the start of the year. “In the public service, the level [de télétravail] has increased but is still insufficient in certain services ”, note the instruction. 54.5% of state employees teleworked from home for at least one day between March 8 and 12, according to the latest data from the Ministry of the Civil Service. Central administration is at the peak, at 73.6%. The decentralized services, under the responsibility of the prefects, also increased, but at 45.6%. Seven departments are below this average and therefore under the spotlight: Aisne, Aube, Alpes-Maritimes, Eure-et-Loir, Pas-de-Calais, Var and Yvelines.
The Ministry of Civil Service Transformation has also been tasked with the Ministry of Labor to work on strengthening the sanitary rules of collective catering announced by Jean Castex for next week. A meeting with the civil servants’ unions is to take place on the subject as of Monday.
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