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Database of national-level policy measures

Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure BG-2020-11/1575 Updated – measures in Bulgaria

Lesaffre Bulgaria: Effects of the pandemic on business and changes in the way of working

Лесафр България: пример за ефектите от пандемията и промените в начина на работа

Country Bulgaria , applies locally

    • – BG411 София (столица) (Sofia (stolitsa))
Time period Temporary, 13 March 2020 – 01 April 2022
Context COVID-19
Type Company practices
Category Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
– Changes in work organisation
Author Tsetomila Sabcheva and Luboslav Kostov (Citub)
Measure added 08 December 2020 (updated 13 June 2023)

Background information

Lesaffre Bulgaria supplies bread, yeast and raw materials for bread production. The company has numerous customers in Bulgaria, including the largest bread producing factories.

With branches and factories in 180 countries, a small team of Lesaffre Bulgaria had the opportunity to observe how their colleagues in different parts of the world coped with the new business realities of the pandemic. In a few days, the orders tripled. The challenge for the team has been how to withstand the pressure and successfully organise the increased amount of work. Rapid mobilisation, extreme adaptability and effective communication were key factors for adapting to the demand during the pandemic.

Content of measure

A crisis team was formed to constantly monitor and analyse the progress of orders and inquiries for deliveries from factories, bakeries, distributors and supermarkets. Constant contact with customers so that regular imports could be ensured.

The remote model of work has been in place for the team of 11 employees since the beginning of the pandemic. Daily virtual operational meetings helped employees realise their responsibility to the company and their important contributions to the success. The virtual office, virtual bakery centre and constant communication with clients were measures that helped the company to manage the increased amount of work and ensure safety of personnel.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

21 July 2021

On 1 April 2022, the anti-epidemic measures introduced in Bulgaria in connection with the pandemic of COVID-19 have been lifted. Virtual office, virtual bakery centre have been no longer needed. No further information is available about the crisis team activity after the State of emergency. Lesafr Bulgaria was awarded first place in the "Successful Entrepreneurship in a Pandemic" category at the annual B2B Media contest on 21 July 2021 in Sofia.

Use of measure

The 11 employees of Lesaffre Bulgaria are eligible for these benefits.

Contents

  • Health and safety
  • Telework
  • Work organisation

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Employees in standard employment
SMEs
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
Company / Companies
Companies

Social partners

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

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form Not applicable Not applicable

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

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: Company level

Involvement

No involvement.

Views and reactions

No involvement.

Sectors and occupations

    • Economic area Sector (NACE level 2)
      G - Wholesale And Retail Trade; Repair Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles G46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

  • 20 November 2020: Lesaffre Bulgaria's website: interview with the manager of the company (lesaffre.bg)
  • 21 July 2021: "LESAFRE BULGARIA" WITH THE GRAND PRIZE FOR THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN A PANDEMIC (lesaffre.bg)

Citation

Eurofound (2020), Lesaffre Bulgaria: Effects of the pandemic on business and changes in the way of working, measure BG-2020-11/1575 (measures in Bulgaria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/BG-2020-11_1575.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.