Some banks reward their employees in “first line” during Covid-19. Constrained as operators of vital importance (OIV) to maintain their activities, they are not finally so numerous to respond to the call launched on March 18 by Emmanuel Macron to "enhance" through an "exceptional premium" the mobilization of their employees obliged to go to their workplace during confinement (between March 17 and May 10).
This premium, which is none other than the renewed Macron premium, is exempt from payroll taxes and withholding tax up to 3 times the minimum wage (i.e. 55,419.12 euros gross annually). First set at 1000 euros, its ceiling was doubled to 2000 euros at the end of March to encourage employees to come to work despite "fear in their stomachs", to use the expression of the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, responsible for '' encourage businesses to pay it by August 31.
From 400 to 1500 euros
Far from following in the footsteps of mass distribution, the banking sector reacts in dispersed order. Located in a region particularly affected by the Covid, Banque populaire Alsace Lorraine Champagne is the first establishment to materialize this boost. From the outset, without opening negotiations with the unions, it offers from the end of June a maximum exceptional bonus of 1500 euros to all its employees (with no income ceiling) "in direct contact with customers" in agencies during "at least the equivalent to one week worked during the confinement period ”. Employees present at headquarters will benefit from a maximum bonus of 1000 euros. On the other hand, a discount of 20% on the amount of the premium is provided in the event of telework for more than eight days.
Elsewhere, the discussions initiated are under the aegis of rather divided staff organizations. Tuesday, June 9, only the SNB CFE-CGC, the leading union in the banking sector, signed the agreement proposed by the management of BNP Paribas. This provides that agents earning up to 80,000 euros gross annually present in agencies and headquarters between 3 and 10 days during confinement will benefit from a premium of 400 euros, raised to 800 euros beyond 10 days of presence. "By excluding teleworkers from any bonus, management has confronted us with a dilemma," said Frédéric Guyonnet, president of the union. If we had refused to sign like the other unions, no employee would have been entitled to a bonus, it is regrettable but we preferred that at least some benefit from it ”.
At the Societe Generale, discussions are about to be concluded. A bonus of 500 euros would be paid at the end of July to employees whose remuneration does not exceed 65,000 euros gross annually and who have worked in agencies and at head office for 10 to 19 days. Beyond 20 days, the premium amount would rise to 750 euros. In total, more than 16,500 agents (out of 26,000 in France) would be affected. Likewise, negotiations are also continuing in three caisses - North, South and Occitane - of the Banque Populaire. The first to support the principle of a "mobilization bonus", Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale (13 federations) and its CIC subsidiary are preparing to open negotiations this month with the unions. Obvious for the mutual group whose employees "managed in two months the equivalent of more than a year of business loans".
On the other hand, large banking networks such as La Banque Postale, the Caisses du Crédit Agricole, LCL and even Caisse d'Épargne have not yet provided such a bonus for their employees.
