Background information

After the introduction of quarantine in Lithuania (the first quarantine lasted from 16 March to 16 June 2020 and the second quarantine was introduced on 7 November 2020), most companies and organisations switched to remote work. As this mode of work has proven to be effective, companies plan to continue teleworking after the end of quarantine. In this context, they offer their employees one-off grants for improving their workspace at home. One of such companies is Danske Bank, which announced on 1 April 2021 to provide grants to employees so that they can set up a comfortable and safe workspace at home.

Content of measure

Danske Bank has announced that it will provide a €700 extra payment for all employees to set up a workspace at home. As the latter amount will be subject to taxes, each employee should receive around €410 net upon request.

According to the company’s management, such a decision was made taking into account that after the end of quarantine the company’s staff will have freedom to opt for teleworking. Currently, all employees of the company have individual laptops for work that can be used both in the office and at home. During the quarantine, each employee had the opportunity to take two monitors and other necessary equipment home, and most were offered ergonomic chairs. However, at the end of the quarantine, all additional equipment (except laptops) will have to be returned to the offices. Thus, the grant is intended to allow employees to upgrade their home space with necessary equipment or furniture and, at the end of the quarantine, to continue working comfortably both from home and in the office.

The grants will reach employees already in April 2021. The employer does not specify exactly what employees should buy and where, but has made a list of offers from partners where employees can purchase hardware or office furniture at a discount.

The company also plans to offer these grants for home office to company’s newcomers and/or employees who returned after a long leave.

Use of measure

In Lithuania, grant applications have been filled in by more than 3,200 employees of the company (out of approximately 4,000). Out of 764 interviewed employees of Danske Bank, 36% said they would buy an adjustable-height desk, 32% an office chair and 27% a monitor. The rest indicated buying a table lamp, a keyboard or other accessories.

Contents

• Health and safety
• Telework

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Employees in standard employment	Does not apply to businesses	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
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

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

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Company level

Involvement

Social partners were not involved.

Views and reactions

No information available.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 01 April 2021: Employers no longer want employees back to offices: they give 700 euros for setting up a workspace at home (Darbdaviai nebenori, kad darbuotojai grįžtų į biurus: duoda ir po 700 eurų įsirengti darbo vietą namuose) (www.delfi.lt)