In order to fight against the multiplication of contaminations, the government wants to force employees to stay at home three to four days a week.
The Prime Minister, Jean Castex, strongly insisted, Monday, December 27, on the importance of remote work to fight against the new outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic. The government wants employees to stay at home “three days a week minimum and if possible four days», Added the former mayor of Prades.
SEE ALSO – Teleworking will be “compulsory” 3 to 4 days a week from the start of the new school year.
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An air of déjà-vu for the majority of people concerned who welcome the measure very differently. “I have been working 100% from home for two years, so it doesn’t change anything for me, it leaves me indifferent», Laughs Serge, 31, a consultant in a consulting firm. On the contrary, Cédric, 28, an advertising employee, learned the news with apprehension.. “I was already teleworking one day a week, it suited me well, but spending three or even four days on the other hand gives me a bit of spleen“. Being alone at home most of the week worries him. He hopes that the situation will not go on forever: “normally it is advertised for three weeks. Hope it’s not too long“.
For others, it is an entire organization that needs to be reviewed: “ I joined the company a month ago and I am still in training, explains Danny, bank advisor, for example I do not yet have all the necessary personal access“. Currently present in the office from Monday to Friday, the transition to three or even four days of teleworking looks like a leap into the unknown. “ In addition, we are in the process of changing managers, so that’s a lot of a sudden. There are bound to be hiccups», He emphasizes.
Lack of equipment, poor internet connection… Many are worried about a loss of productivity linked to working at home. Sometimes it’s even a whole part of the job that can no longer be done by teleworking: “all the exhibition part, live advice, day of sale is not possible from his computer», Illustrates Violette, 25, trainee in an auction house. Beyond that, it is the health of the sector that worries him.
An obligation that questions
On the business side, the measure and tone of the Prime Minister surprised: “the announcement of an obligation is astonishing. Since July, the government has been more in favor of leaving the hand to businesses», Points out Benoit Serre, vice-president of the National Association of HRDs (Andrh). In fact, not all companies are equal in the face of this constraint: “ for someone who already had a hybrid system with one or two days of telecommuting, that doesn’t change much. On the other hand for the structures which do not make any at all, it is more complicatedHe warns.
In fact, despite the character presented as “obligatoryOf the measure, some have planned to override it. “Except the first confinement because we were in the unknown and there was no activity anyway, no one here has ever teleworked and we have no plans to change», Explains Philippe, 29, manager of a small personal assistance company. If he says he is aware of the value of the measure, it seems too complicated to implement for his activity. “Thisthe request for a lot of organization and then I absolutely must exchange with the life assistants and the customers of which some are dependent people and they do not know or cannot exchange by Zoom or equivalentHe adds.
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In addition, the control of this “obligation for those who can“, According to the Prime Minister, remains to be specified:”there is no list“, Abounds Benoit Serre,”we are in the dark“. This does not slow down the government, which wants to punish recalcitrant companies through administrative sanctions.