In order to solve the temporary worker crisis this summer, many municipalities are offering care staff a bonus if they work extra. This is shown by TV4Nyhetern’s mapping. In Skellefteå, employees can receive as much as SEK 30,000. But the bonus is discounted by some.
– For me, the money is not important, I need to be off, says assistant nurse Catrin Renström.
171 municipalities have responded to TV4 Nyheterna’s survey about summer bonuses. 37 percent say they offer extra money if staff move their vacation. 54 percent offer no bonuses, 9 percent answer they don’t know.
But several municipalities state that they may opt for bonuses if they cannot get the summer staff together.
Depending on how many holiday weeks the staff in the country they move to can receive from SEK 2,000 to just over SEK 30,000 extra.
– We have to do this in order to cope with the summer staffing, says Linda Dehlin, head of department within Health and care at Skellefteå municipality. We have chosen to do as last year, when there were about 200 people who said yes to the offer, so far this year, just as many have accepted, she says.
The union is critical of summer bonuses
The Municipal Union is critical of the municipalities doing this, and believes that the staff need time off and that the municipalities are acting too short-term.
– It’s very sad that you can’t plan better and have a long-term perspective so that the staff gets a continuous recovery but above all their summer vacation, so this is under all criticism that you do it this way, says Malin Ragnegård, chairman of Kommunal .
“Agree with”
– I agree, it is short-term, says Linda Dehlin, director of care and social care at Skellefteå municipality. In addition, there was a big bang last autumn when everyone who had not been off in the summer took their holidays. We also have to work long-term.
She is satisfied that the members of the municipality in the latest salary movement will receive a 4.1 percent salary increase. But the working environment also needs to be improved.
– Then it’s about good work colleagues, that you work in teams and have leaders who listen, says Linda Dehlin.
Although many people in Skellefteå have agreed to move their holidays, there are still more than 150 people missing for the summer staffing to be loose, the care manager hopes that the permanent staff will cover for each other if there is a crisis.
– We can’t close the departments and send those who live here home, says Linda Dehlin.