Two years of fighting the pandemic are getting down to business. After the medical staff, the police are now sounding the alarm: Due to the demo operations and focus controls to comply with the Covid measures, tens of thousands of overtime have recently been incurred. In addition, an above-average number of officials themselves have corona.
Although the vaccination quota within the troops is over 80 percent, far higher than the average, the virus is still taking a toll on the police. The infection rate is twice as high compared to the total population, explains police unionist Hermann Greylinger (FSG). The result: Many civil servants have to go on sick leave instead of their duty, which inevitably means one thing for their colleagues – even more overtime! More overtime, but sick leave stable. According to the union, police officers have to work an average of 60 hours of overtime per month in order for the factory to run reasonably smoothly. In response to a “Krone” request, the Vienna State Police Department said “only” 40 hours of overtime per officer. The sickness rates have also increased only minimally compared to the previous year – specifically by two percent. How many police officers actually contracted Corona is unclear. Because an infection must be reported to the health authorities, but not to the employer. High effort for demos and Covid controls But the fact is: The pandemic is putting the resilience of the Viennese police to a hard test. For large demos like the end of November alone, more than 12,000 hours of overtime were incurred. Despite the support of colleagues from the federal states. No figures are yet available for the rallies last weekend, but it will not have been less, according to insider circles. Greylinger also sees a low mood among officials. This is also likely to be related to the controls to ensure compliance with the Covid measures. Because even these would provoke overtime non-stop – in November 1643 alone, as the records show. Of course, many officials have not yet seen a light at the end of the tunnel …
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