Denmark
The FOA public services union has responded to claims about high levels of employment in hospitals by pointing to the significant increase in productivity. Figures from the union show that in 2009 77 employees deliver the same level of output as 100 employees did in 2001. The FOA also argues that hospitals now employ more staff directly to cover for absences rather than relying on costlier agency workers to do this.
Read more at > FOA (DK)
(January 2017) Public services JHL has drawn attention to the evidence showing the benefits of improved well-being at work. The union cites research estimating that sickness absence, accidents at work and occupational diseases cost the economy cost the economy EUR 2 billion a month. Effective measures to deal with these will reduce these costs and boost productivity. The union argues that this is particularly important at a time when health and social service staff are already facing excessive workloads and now also have to deal with a major restructuring of the sector.
The FOA public service union has responded to attacks on inefficiency and laziness in the health service by pointing to a long-run increase in productivity in the sector. There has been a increase of 12,000 staff in hospitals since 2001 but in terms of productivity, 77 workers today deliver the same services as 100 workers then. New technology, shorter waiting lists, better outpatient care are among the factors contributing to this increase in efficiency. Over the last 10 years hospitals have faced demands to improve productivity by 1.5%-2% each year. In contrast the private sector has only
Member of the vida private services union working at the network of religious hospitals have voted by a two-thirds majority to accept a new pay deal. Increases will range from 8.4% to 11.2% (for the lower paid) with a minimum increase on monthly salaries of €205. The union has welcomed the agreement that begins to recognise the work done by health staff during the pandemic and helps address the rising cost of living. Vida also underlined the importance of the high level of member participation in campaigning and industrial action that contributed to securing a better pay offer from the
