Background information

Automobile company Daimler has compensated employees for the additional strains created by measures implemented to slow down infections with COVID-19 in Germany. Daimler's HR management recognised that wearing face masks at work as well as working from home for longer periods of time constitute physical and mental hard ship for employees. The company works council confirmed that employees had to work under more difficult conditions in 2020 compared to the years before. Daimler management therefore decided to compensate employees with a bonus payment to be paid at the end of the year.

Content of measure

Daimler employees benefit from a one-time bonus payment (Corona-Prämie) to be paid at the end of the year. The bonus recognises employees' efforts and their difficult working conditions in 2020, and aims to cushion financial and personal hard ship suffered during the corona pandemic. The bonus amounts to €1000, with no variation according to salary levels. The total number of workers receiving the bonus exceeds 160,000 employees. Only standard employees are covered by the measure. The bonus will be paid together with the salary for the month of December and is not subject to tax deductions or social insurance deductions.

Use of measure

This is a measure with direct effect at individual level. As a collective, Daimler employees are facing restructuring measures because of a decrease in demand. Company plans for cost reduction and restructuring are not affected by the bonus payment.

Contents

• Bonuses

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Employees in standard employment	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Company / Companies	Employer

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

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

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Company level

Involvement

1. This is a management-led initiative at individual company level.
2. Social partners outside the company were not involved.
3. The employer bears the cost of measures.

Views and reactions

No data.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 01 December 2020: Case 1583 Press article in business magazine (www.automobilwoche.de)
• 15 December 2021: Case 1583 - Daimler Premium 2021 (www.handelsblatt.com)