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.
Overview of measures by category
Cases in this category contain examples of emergency legislation, agreements or company practices concerning occupational safety and health (OSH) and worker well-being, particularly for workplaces with significant client contact where social distancing is difficult, such as the care sector, retail or banks. It also includes new work arrangements aimed at limiting the direct face-to-face contacts, in particular through teleworking, but also via new working time arrangements.
Overall, Eurofound has identified 255 measures in 30 countries for this category.
30 November 2020 |
Kotkamills' workers autonomy increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
Finland, Company practices |
27 November 2020 |
Centralized crisis coordination at company level
Belgium, Company practices |
14 September 2020 |
Suspension of the collective agreement of the tour guides of Crete and Santorini in case of pandemic
Greece, Bipartite collective agreements |
07 September 2020 |
Collective agreement Volkswagen Slovensko Bratislava for 2019-2023
Slovakia, Bipartite collective agreements |
02 September 2020 |
COVID-19 FAQ - Guidelines for employers in the automotive sector
Slovakia, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Women in Innovation Awards
United Kingdom, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Regional monitoring of structural developments
Germany, Other initiatives or policies |
30 December 2020 Updated |
Social partners address economic challenges: central government
Poland, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
09 December 2020 |
Secure pay and safe working conditions at Krones
Germany, Bipartite collective agreements |
01 December 2020 |
BAE Systems: Social distancing measures help staff return to work safely
United Kingdom, Company practices |
30 November 2020 |
Dublin Airport restructuring plan
Ireland, Bipartite collective agreements |
12 November 2020 |
Bonuses, overnight shift at Tesco
Hungary, Company practices |
30 October 2020 |
Employers organisations' guidelines on working conditions during COVID-19 crisis
Netherlands, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
14 October 2021 |
Prolonged terms in office for trade union officials and other employee representatives due to the pandemic
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 October 2020 Updated |
Staggered working times - exceptional and transitory regime
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 October 2020 Updated |
Collective agreement changes during COVID-19
Hungary, Bipartite collective agreements |
27 September 2020 |
Measures for protecting the employees in the banking sector
Romania, Other initiatives or policies |
10 September 2020 |
A new employment model in Höfe
Slovenia, Company practices |
10 September 2020 Updated |
Trade union initiative for a complete closure of shops on Sunday
Slovenia, Other initiatives or policies |
03 August 2020 |
Postponement of the assessment of trade unions’ representativeness in SMEs and extension of mandates in labour-related bodies
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 June 2020 Updated |
Combis officially implements remote work model
Croatia, Company practices |
23 June 2022 |
Employee sharing
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Transitional employment agency or transitional company
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Organisation of work in the public sector
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 Updated |
New working arrangements (eg. telework) due to pandemic
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 April 2020 |
Emergency measures to speed temporary layoffs and short time work schemes for cooperatives
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 April 2021 Updated |
Exceptional suspension of deadlines associated with survival and expiry of collective agreements
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 April 2020 Updated |
Civil protection authority entitled to set working time in retail trade
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
31 March 2020 |
Airbus agreement for making up unworked hours during its production suspension period
France, Bipartite collective agreements |
18 December 2020 |
Closed front doors and cash-free payment to protect bus drivers
Norway, Bipartite collective agreements |
17 December 2020 |
New technologies in Alpha-Mega Hypermarkets for health and safety
Cyprus, Company practices |
17 December 2020 |
Lidl Cyprus health and safety protection protocol
Cyprus, Company practices |
16 December 2020 Updated |
Systematically test against COVID-19
Denmark, Company practices |
13 December 2021 |
Mandatory COVID-19 testing for private sector employees
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
04 December 2020 |
Ficosota Bulgaria: Successful reorganisation of operations for safety of personnel
Bulgaria, Company practices |
29 November 2021 Updated |
COVID-19 response plan
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 November 2021 Updated |
Rules for winter tourism season 2021/22
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
27 November 2020 |
Alain Afflelou: Technological innovation to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Spain, Company practices |
27 November 2020 |
New digital communication platform to maintain contact
Belgium, Company practices |
27 November 2020 |
Survey of companies about workers, infected in workplaces
Slovenia, Other initiatives or policies |
27 November 2020 |
Pivka perutninarstvo - an example of good practice
Slovenia, Company practices |
26 November 2021 Updated |
Company testing
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
26 November 2020 |
Memorandum on the implementation of socially responsible policies in the commerce sector
Latvia, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
26 November 2020 |
COVID-19 recognised as an occupational disease
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
26 November 2020 Updated |
National protocol to ensure the health and safety of employees
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
26 November 2020 Updated |
Recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
26 November 2020 |
Authorisation for employers to organise collective screening of employees
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
25 November 2021 Updated |
3-G-Rule in the workplace
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 November 2020 |
Taxi company adapts to COVID-19
Malta, Company practices |
12 November 2020 |
Workplace adaptation in favour of people with disabilities including in response to the COVID-19 health emergency
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 November 2020 |
Large electronics manufacturer – COVID-19 defence measure
Hungary, Company practices |
09 November 2020 |
Two practical handbooks for employers and employees on COVID-related OSH
France, Other initiatives or policies |
06 November 2021 Updated |
Mandatory COVID certificates for employees and users of public and state services
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 November 2020 |
New regulation on a series of occupational health and safety measures in the fight against COVID-19
Luxembourg, Tripartite agreements |
30 October 2020 |
Maxima gets its employees insured against COVID-19
Lithuania, Company practices |
29 October 2020 |
KTH: Increased support calls to occupational health providers
Sweden, Bipartite collective agreements |
23 October 2020 |
Telecommunications company Elisa's COVID-19 General Exit guidelines
Finland, Company practices |
16 October 2020 Updated |
Exceptional aid to cover the extra cost of specific prevention equipment
France, Other initiatives or policies |
15 October 2020 |
Exceptional travel support for disabled workers
France, Other initiatives or policies |
12 October 2021 Updated |
German Infection Protection Act
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 October 2020 |
Agreement on safety protocols for meat industry
Ireland, Bipartite collective agreements |
12 October 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 safety protocols agreed in the construction sector
Ireland, Bipartite collective agreements |
08 October 2021 Updated |
Condition of morbidity, vaccination and testing at workplace
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 October 2020 |
Tripartite agreement for the prevention of occupational hazards in the Madrid Region
Spain, Tripartite agreements |
30 September 2021 |
Recruitment of fixed-term employees/Outsourcing services
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
28 September 2020 Updated |
Protocol for the containment of the COVID-19 spread in the transport sector and logistics
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
28 September 2020 Updated |
Protocol for the containment of the COVID-19 spread in the construction sites
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
25 September 2020 Updated |
Ferrero company-level agreement for health and safety of workers during the COVID-19 emergency
Italy, Bipartite collective agreements |
23 September 2020 Updated |
Protocol for the safety of workers in the audiovisual sector
Italy, Other initiatives or policies |
18 September 2020 Updated |
Position of the council for protection of work on safety and protection of health of workers during the pandemic
Poland, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
15 September 2020 |
COVID-19 info-hotline for East European workers
Germany, Other initiatives or policies |
15 September 2020 |
Trade unions support members to exercise right to withhold performance in case of OSH violations
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 OSH standards for industrial cleaners
Germany, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
15 September 2020 |
Local Chamber of Industry and Commerce issue handout for companies to develop hygiene concepts
Germany, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
13 September 2022 |
COVID-19 traffic restrictions instead of isolation
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 September 2021 |
Trade unions call for equal and free access to vaccines (also outside the EU)
European Union, Other initiatives or policies |
10 September 2021 |
ELA campaign: to create safe working conditions for seasonal workers
European Union, Other initiatives or policies |
10 September 2021 |
The new EU OSH Strategy draws lessons from the current pandemic
European Union, Other initiatives or policies |
10 September 2020 |
Trade union proposal for a reform of occupational medicine
Slovenia, Other initiatives or policies |
10 September 2020 |
Update to the biological agents directive to include SARS-CoV-2
European Union, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 September 2020 |
Social partners explore possible joint initiatives for COVID-19 crisis
“Support for SMEs and workers”
Greece, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
01 September 2020 |
COVID-19: 40 urgent measures for construction workers
Portugal, Other initiatives or policies |
31 August 2020 |
Social partner agreement on prevention and protection at the workplace
Belgium, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
24 August 2020 |
COVID-19 and changes in the OSH legislation
Slovakia, Other initiatives or policies |
04 August 2020 |
Adapting Occupational Health Services to Health Emergencies
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
03 August 2020 |
National deconfinement protocol for companies
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
27 July 2021 Updated |
Mandatory "health passes" and vaccinations for certain employees
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 July 2020 Updated |
Return to Work Safely Protocol
Ireland, Tripartite agreements |
15 July 2021 Updated |
Sars-CoV-2 Occupational safety and health standard and ordinance
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 July 2021 |
Occupational safety and health inspection act
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 July 2020 |
Health and Safety measures in the workplace
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 July 2020 Updated |
Special protection for COVID-19 risk groups at work
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 July 2023 |
Suspension of the obligation to vaccinate healthcare workers against COVID-19
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
04 July 2023 |
National interprofessional agreement of 11 April 2023 on the ecological transition and social dialogue
France, Bipartite collective agreements |
21 May 2020 |
Stricter regulations for the meat industry
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
17 May 2022 |
Modification of the use of masks against COVID-19
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 May 2021 |
COVID-19: sick leave within the waiting period
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 May 2020 |
Social partners set out general guidelines for return to work
Belgium, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
28 April 2021 Updated |
Aid to industrial companies in the Community of Madrid
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
25 April 2020 |
COVID-19 recognised as a work injury
Denmark, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 April 2020 |
COVID-19 guide to health and safety recommendations for business continuity in construction
France, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
15 April 2020 Updated |
Protection of workers in retail, including change of working hours
Austria, Bipartite collective agreements |
14 April 2021 |
Measures to support workers in fragile conditions
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 April 2020 Updated |
Occupational safety measures concerning COVID-19
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 April 2020 Updated |
Instructions from the social partners for dealing with construction sites due to COVID-19
Austria, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
13 April 2021 |
Compensated COVID-19 testing for small- and medium-sized enterprises
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 April 2020 |
Occupational health and safety promotion - Health professionals
Portugal, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
13 April 2020 |
Occupational health and safety in the public transportation service
Portugal, Other initiatives or policies |
12 April 2021 |
Updated measures for preventing contagion in workplaces
Italy, Tripartite agreements |
10 April 2021 Updated |
New rules for taking meals at work
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 April 2020 |
Government and social partners protocol to ensure safe working conditions at the workplace
Italy, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
10 April 2020 |
Protection of workers and the public
Cyprus, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
10 April 2020 Updated |
Health and safety at work in the epidemic
Slovenia, Other initiatives or policies |
08 April 2021 Updated |
Free COVID-19 rapid tests in businesses with a staff of more than 20 employees
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 April 2020 |
Suspending an employee from work in the event of an emergency or quarantine
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 March 2021 |
Kaufland Bulgaria: Care for employees
Bulgaria, Company practices |
09 March 2021 |
Lidl Bulgaria with "COVID Shield" certificate
Bulgaria, Company practices |
21 February 2023 |
Psycho social impacts of work conditions categorised as occupational diseases
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 February 2021 |
E.Wedel: Crisis team for safe production
Poland, Company practices |
12 February 2021 |
Volkswagen Poznań: Sanitary and organisational adaptations in the automotive production
Poland, Company practices |
11 February 2022 Updated |
COVID-19 self-testing by pupils and students in primary and secondary schools
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
04 February 2021 |
Extensive testing in companies
Czechia, Bipartite collective agreements |
27 January 2021 Updated |
General collective agreement Corona test
Austria, Bipartite collective agreements |
12 January 2022 |
CovidCheck in business: 3G plan
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 January 2022 Updated |
Preventing the spread of the COVID-19 in hotel Augusta
Bulgaria, Company practices |
12 January 2022 |
Limiting the risk of COVID-19 in Sofia University
Bulgaria, Company practices |
10 January 2022 Updated |
Regulations on biological risks of employees exposed to COVID-19
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 January 2022 |
Tripartite agreement and Act allowing companies to require corona passports and self-testing
Denmark, Tripartite agreements |
09 January 2022 Updated |
Obligatory COVID-19 vaccination for selected occupational groups
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 January 2021 Updated |
Bonus for hazardous work
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
22 December 2020 Updated |
Gozo Telework Scheme
Malta, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
18 December 2020 |
Increased use of new digital platforms
Norway, Company practices |
17 December 2020 |
Use of home office in public and private companies
Norway, Company practices |
09 December 2020 Updated |
New Normal Working Model at Siemens
Germany, Company practices |
09 December 2020 |
Safe working conditions and safe production at B. Braun Melsungen AG
Germany, Bipartite collective agreements |
08 December 2020 |
IndustriAll Europe calls for urgent reaction to the sudden developments on telework
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
08 December 2020 |
VMware office Bulgaria: Successful adaptation of the work processes to the new business reality
Bulgaria, Company practices |
02 December 2020 |
Government guidelines cybersecurity and remote working
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 December 2020 |
VodafoneZiggo: Long-term remote working policy
Netherlands, Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
ING: Free choice of up to 100% telework
Spain, Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
Go4All - collaborative platform for remote working
Portugal, Company practices |
27 November 2020 |
Argenta: Bank introduces crisis management team
Belgium, Company practices |
26 November 2020 |
Homeworking in VSE Holding
Slovakia, Company practices |
26 November 2020 |
Suez: Agreement on telework
France, Bipartite collective agreements |
23 November 2020 |
Banca-Credito Cooperativo company agreement on the smart working
Italy, Bipartite collective agreements |
23 November 2020 |
Acciai Speciali Terni company agreement of smart working
Italy, Bipartite collective agreements |
23 November 2020 |
Merck Serono company agreement on smart working
Italy, Bipartite collective agreements |
03 November 2020 |
Distance work arrangements in Ignitis Group
Lithuania, Company practices |
02 November 2020 Updated |
Agreement on a teleworking regime
Luxembourg, Bipartite collective agreements |
31 October 2020 Updated |
New permanent regulation on remote work under consideration
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
30 October 2020 |
New measures for the teleworking in the public administration
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 October 2020 |
KTH:s remote working rules and return to work
Sweden, Company practices |
29 October 2020 |
E-club by sport club Akros
Estonia, Company practices |
24 October 2020 |
Urgent measures on teleworking in public administrations
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 October 2020 |
Regulation of remote work
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 October 2020 Updated |
Exceptional support for the implementation of telework
France, Other initiatives or policies |
15 October 2020 |
Exceptional support for training courses to support people with disabilities
France, Other initiatives or policies |
07 October 2021 |
New policy on 'blended working' in the civil service published
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
02 October 2020 Updated |
Telework and workers with disability or impairment - exceptional and temporary measure
Portugal, Other initiatives or policies |
28 September 2020 |
Company agreements on smart-working suggest that teleworking will be here to stay
Italy, Bipartite collective agreements |
25 September 2020 |
Principles and guidelines for the new agile work in the telecommunications supply chain
Italy, Bipartite collective agreements |
25 September 2020 |
Distance working or work suspension for vulnerable workers
Working distance or suspending work of vulnerable groups.
Working distance or suspending work of vulnerable group
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2020 |
Improvement of working conditions for employees with serious health problems
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2020 |
Amendment of the sectoral collective agreement for the Lithuanian national public health system
Lithuania, Bipartite collective agreements |
11 September 2020 Updated |
Initiative from employers for reforming teleworking arrangements
Slovenia, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
04 September 2020 |
Practical guides of Hellenic Federation of Enterprises on telework and the continuation of business under the crisis of COVID-19
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
27 July 2020 Updated |
Emergency measures relating to employee representative bodies
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 July 2022 |
Subsidy for homeoffice - IT infrastructure
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
10 July 2020 Updated |
Telework - Increasing the number of Public Administration workers in teleworking
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 June 2023 |
Parents' right to telework and covered expenses for telework
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 May 2020 Updated |
Office allowance for teleworkers
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
25 April 2020 |
SME subsidy for teleworking: Region of Styria and Chamber of Labour
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
16 April 2020 |
Subsidy for home offices - IT infrastructure
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Employers authorised to unilaterally switch to teleworking
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 April 2020 Updated |
Recommendation on teleworking
Austria, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
13 April 2021 |
Danske Bank gives employees a grant to upgrade their workspace at home
Lithuania, Company practices |
12 April 2021 Updated |
National Remote Work Strategy aims to make remote working a permanent option after the pandemic
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 April 2020 |
Preference for remote work
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 April 2020 Updated |
Exceptional measures regarding teleworking for cross-border workers
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 April 2021 |
Thales: new agreement to facilitate the use of telework
France, Bipartite collective agreements |
10 April 2020 Updated |
New telework rules: mandatory application, telework allowance and favourable tax treatment
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 April 2020 |
Teleworking and working from home in the public and broader public sector
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 April 2020 Updated |
Telework - exceptional and temporary measure in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 April 2020 Updated |
New rules for teleworking
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
04 April 2020 Updated |
Facilitating teleworking
Malta, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
31 March 2020 Updated |
Simplifying the adoption of the smart working regime
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 March 2021 Updated |
Teleworking regulation
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 March 2021 |
Nationwide's job guarantee during the pandemic
United Kingdom, Company practices |
17 February 2023 |
Smart working extension for vulnerable workers
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 February 2021 |
Netguru: Remote working and well-being at IT company
Poland, Company practices |
07 February 2021 |
Ervia: Agile work programme aided move to remote working during pandemic
Ireland, Company practices |
06 February 2021 |
Allegro: remote working policy development
Poland, Company practices |
06 February 2021 |
Schaeffler Global Services Europe: Remote working and workplace well-being measures
Poland, Company practices |
03 February 2021 |
Chytrý Honza: Accelerated investment in IT in financial services company
Czechia, Company practices |
27 January 2021 |
Home office regulation
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 January 2021 |
Financial support for teleworkers
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 October 2021 |
The obstruction of the tripartite social dialogue
Slovenia, Tripartite agreements |
11 September 2020 |
Re-establishment of tripartite negotiation on the third and forth emergency laws
Slovenia, Other initiatives or policies |
30 January 2023
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