PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron called France back into lockdown on the evening of October, the Chief Executive of Thales advised employees in a memo that the anti-COVID steps already in place at the organization were in line with the latest criteria.
At that time workers were expected to wear a face mask at work, arrival and departure times and were able to work at home up to two days per week.
But in his speech, Macron encouraged everyone to work full-time from home if they could - but the order was not legally binding and employers were left with the final decision.
According to the hard-left CGT party, sensing reticence at Thales, many unions protested to the labour inspectorate.
Gregory Lewandowski, a Thales delegate at the CGT, said The message from management (was to say, 'we're putting in place remote work, but we have to protect revenues.'" "You still have the feeling that income is more important than health."
Thales denied being hesitant to allow home-working, saying that it was allowed to do so up to five days a week for workers willing to perform their duties outside the workplace.
Across France, according to interviews with workers, labor unions and a top labour ministry official, several firms, from blue chip majors to small caps, have pushed back against the demand for full-time remote jobs.
Management concerns about efficiency and earnings were identified by workers and union leaders, as well as a deep-rooted culture of distrust between managers and employees.
In the summer, French companies were quicker to recall workers to the office after a first COVID-19 confinement than some European peers. An AlphaWise survey for Morgan Stanley found that 83% of office workers in France were back to work at the end of July compared to 34% in Britain.
Some French employers, eager to increase productivity, were hesitant to let workers go again. And workers, tired of the loneliness of the first lockdown, also decided to divide their time between home and work.
"We had to bang our fists on the table and say no, this is how it is," said a senior labor ministry official about the days following the announcement of the president on Oct. 28. Due to the seriousness of the matter, the official declined to be called.
Data from the health authority in late October found that one in every five examined COVID-19 clusters emerged in the workplace, second only to nursing homes.
HOTSPOT OF INFECTIONGoogle mobility data for France reveals that, relative to spring confinement, people make more journeys to the workplace during the second lockdown.
For a Google Mobility Report graphic for France:
