Background information

The public health measures taken as a response to the spread of the corona virus, have forced several thousands of companies in Styria to resort to telework. It is important to take flexible paths - from management to production and working methods to sales and communication internally and externally. The goal of this initivie is to maintain operations, secure jobs - and at the same time protect the health of customers and employees. For this reason, the regional government of Styria (Land Steiermark, with its support service provider SFG) and the Chamber of Labour in the region of Styria (AK Steiermark) started their promotion campaign 'Teleworking! Offensive' retrospectively from 1 March 2020.

Content of measure

The campaign supports the set up of temporary teleworking places financially. These are investments in information and communication technology for workplaces outside the company location. This includes some hardware and software, the initial start-up and licenses.

For the incurred expenses, 50% from the regional state, and another 30% from AK Steiermark can be received as non repayable grants. Alternatively, the rent or lease of equipment is supported by covering down payments or costs for a maximum of five months.

Costs for the ongoing operation of internet access, telephone, electricity etc., but also office and business equipment, such as furniture etc. are not covered.

The maximum eligible costs are €50,000 per company and €5,000 per teleworker (on average). The grant volume must be between €1,000 and €40,000. In total, funds for supporting 2,300 teleworking jobs have been set up.

Eligible are employers in Styria which are classified as SMEs. Excluded are one-person microenterprises, tourism and leisure businesses, nonprofit organisations, healthcare companies and people outside the SFG target group.

Use of measure

Between 1 April 2020 and 15 April 2020, 550 applications were received. On 22 April, over 1,000 applications were registered.

On 23 April, the funds were used and applications for the subsidy no longer possible.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	SMEs	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Trade unions Local / regional government Public support service providers	Regional funds Trade union

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	No involvement
Form	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only trade unions
• Main level of involvement: Regional or local level

Involvement

The Styrian Chamber of Labour was involved in the design of the measure and funds 30%.

Views and reactions

Views on the measure are positive.

Sources

• 15 April 2020: New funding actions to support businesses (Neuer Foerderaktion fuer Unternehmen) - SFG (www.sfg.at)
• 22 April 2020: Teleworking offensive: over 1,000 applications (Telearbeitsplatz-Offensive: Über 1.000 Anträge) (steiermark.orf.at)
• 23 April 2020: Styria: Teleworking offensive - budget exhausted! (Steiermark: Telearbeitsplatz-Offensive - Budget ausgeschöpft!) (www.regionews.at)
• 25 April 2020: Tele!Arbeit (www.sfg.at)