Allinger, Bernadette
COVID-19 in the workplace: Employer’s responsibility to ensure a safe workplace
16 June 2022
Throughout 2021, the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, specific occupational health and safety rules were reintroduced due to increases in infection rates. Mandatory face masks, physical distancing and hygiene measures were enforced, and the recommendation to telework was largely re-instated in phases of high epidemiological risk. In many countries, employers were obliged to perform a COVID-19 risk assessment and implement measures accordingly.
Back to work after COVID-19: Testing, vaccines and green certificates
16 June 2022
In the second pandemic year 2021, access to one’s place of work was increasingly dependent on providing proof of either having been tested, vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in several countries. Specific professional groups – such as essential workers and workers in critical infrastructure – were prioritised in vaccination programmes. A general vaccination mandate was introduced only in one country – Austria – where, however, the legislation was suspended shortly after its launch. In several countries, vaccination was made mandatory for specific employee groups, and this policy, if contested, was by and large endorsed by court rulings. Social partners have generally encouraged employees to get vaccinated, with unions mostly opposed to both the obligation on workers to disclose their vaccination status and mandatory vaccinations.
Mixed impacts of COVID-19 on social dialogue and collective bargaining in 2020
27 April 2021
Austria: Latest developments in working life Q4 2019
03 March 2020
Austria: Latest developments in working life Q3 2019
21 November 2019
Austria: Latest developments in working life Q2 2019
30 July 2019
Austria: Latest developments in working life Q1 2019
17 May 2019
Austria: Latest working life developments – Q1 2018
17 May 2018
Austria: Latest working life developments – Q4 2017
30 January 2018
Austria: Equal treatment for blue- and white-collar employees
22 January 2018