In keeping with the Handelsblatt, Thierig and Demmler spoke at a works assembly, of which the German newspaper has an audio recording. In August, the extent of sick depart among the many 12,000 staff in Grünheide had risen to 17 per cent, and firstly of September, it was nonetheless at 11 per cent. That’s apparently not acceptable.
“That meant we needed to go to the folks. And that’s what we did. This has nothing to do with common suspicion. We merely picked out 30 staff who had the related abnormalities, who had been on sick depart for fairly a very long time, but additionally to lots of people who handed in first sick notes,” Demmler is quoted as saying.
The unannounced inspection visits by prime managers had been clearly not effectively acquired. “You might simply inform by the aggression,” Demmler continues. “By having the door slammed shut. By being threatened with the police. By being requested for those who don’t need to make an appointment first.”
Demmler clearly emphasised that the intention was to not criticise or make calls for of the workers – fairly, they wished to learn the way folks had been doing and the way they might assist. Nevertheless, the battle is just not new. As early as 2023, Thierig criticised the angle of some staff. There was no room in his manufacturing facility for individuals who “couldn’t get away from bed” within the morning, he stated at a works assembly. In July 2024, Tesla even supplied a bonus for workers with low sick depart.
It stays to be seen whether or not the controversial residence visits will assist to cut back the variety of sick staff. From a authorized perspective, nevertheless, they’re most likely justifiable, as unannounced residence visits by the employer are usually not prohibited – “at the very least if the employer suspects that one thing is fallacious with the sick observe.”
handelsblatt.com (in German)