Covid-19: "Teleworking wherever possible becomes imperative", warns Castex

Reinforce teleworking to avoid a third confinement.

While studies show a certain relaxation in companies in France, the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, recalled the need to resort to this practice during his press conference on Thursday.

"Teleworking wherever possible becomes imperative," insisted the head of government, who was accompanied by several ministers, including that of Labor, Elisabeth Borne.

According to the national health protocol, a face-to-face return is only possible one day per week for employees who express the need.

“This is a very powerful lever that we are not using enough to curb the epidemic.

There are still too many companies where teleworking would be possible but where it does not exist at all, or at very low levels, ”said Jean Castex.

" We do not have the choice "

According to a Harris Interactive survey published at the end of January, among workers who can easily telecommute, 36% did not do so in the week of January 18 to 24, compared to 30% in the week of November 2 to 8.

And the share of those working 100% remotely rose from 45% in November to 30% in January.

" We do not have the choice.

We need to re-mobilize, "added Elisabeth Borne, who asks each company to implement" the following two priorities: reduce the proportion of employees who do not telework at all and that employees who telework today 1, 2 or 3 days a week do at least one extra day of telework each week ”.

Despite everything, “those who work 100% have the possibility of returning one day a week” if necessary, even if this measure must remain the exception, recalls the Minister of Labor.

Mobilize certain branches that are slacking

On Wednesday evening, Elisabeth Borne had already asked trade unions and employers "to ensure that the social dialogue bodies meet without delay within companies to define the modalities according to which the implementation of teleworking must be strengthened".

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Teleworking "must be the rule for all activities that allow it", recalled the Minister of Labor.

According to her, "some sectors have experienced a particularly significant decline".

This is particularly the case in the banking-insurance, information-communication, audiovisual, legal and accounting sectors.

A meeting will take place at the beginning of next week for the branches concerned, in order to "ensure that measures have been taken", announced Elisabeth Borne on Thursday.

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"We like to see people, we miss the discussions"

Beyond this immediate necessity, many companies are negotiating the next move.

Indeed, even if teleworking can pose problems, employees have discovered that this practice could have advantages: less transport, more flexible organization of work, etc.

During the two confinements, in 2020, 5 million employees in the private sector began to carry out their activity from home overnight.

Agreements must now be negotiated in companies to determine the maximum duration of teleworking per week and any correlated compensation.