Eurofound's COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the crisis, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for case GR-2020-14/1106 – measures in Greece
Country | Greece , applies nationwide |
Time period | Temporary, 31 March 2020 – 31 May 2020 |
Type | Company practices |
Category |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services
– Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
Author | Penny Georgiadou (INE GSEE) |
Case created | 11 September 2020 (updated 18 September 2020) |
During the pandemic crisis, many businesses were forced or voluntarily shut down. On the contrary, the food and supermarket retailers, an industry with high rates of flexible forms of employment, not only closed down but also increased their turnover.
The major supermarket chains in Greece, recognizing the extraordinary efforts made by their employees during the pandemic in order to serve the consumers, granted a series of bonuses to their staff, proceeded in new recruitments and gave pay increases. Among the companies were the leading Supermarkets in Greece such as “Masoutis”, “Sklavenitis”, “Lidl Hellas”, “AB Basilopoulos” (Ahold Group) and “Μy Market”.
Supermarket chains in Greece, recognizing the great efforts made by their employees, rewarded their staff by granting bonuses and making new hires. The Masoutis chain, first of all, distributed to its employees the 30% of its annual net profits as an additional bonus. The company SKLAVENITIS granted an exceptional benefit of €5 million at the end of March 2020, while announced 1,000 recruitments. AB Vasilopoulos (Ahold Group) allocated more than €3 million to its employees. The “My Market” company also allocated an additional amount of €2.5 million to its employees. It also made 450 recruitments for its e-shop activity and its distribution centres. LIDL Hellas granted an exceptional benefit amounting to €1.8 million in the form of vouchers.
It is estimated that, the bonuses given to the employees in the supermarket sector, concern over 60,000 food retail workers, increased their income and rewarded them for their significant contribution to the proper functioning of businesses during the lock-down period.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Particular professions
|
Does not apply to businesses | Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
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Company / Companies
|
Companies
|
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:
It is an initiative of companies.
The measure is positive for employees of supermarkets.
This case is sector-specific (only private sector)
Economic area | Sector (NACE level 2) |
---|---|
G - Wholesale And Retail Trade; Repair Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles | G47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
This case is occupation-specific
Occupation (ISCO level 2) |
---|
Sales workers |
Citation
Eurofound (2020), Bonuses from supermarket chains to reward their employees., case GR-2020-14/1106 (measures in Greece), COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, http://eurofound.link/covid19eupolicywatch
Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.