Zouhir, 55, was released from hospital, but his voice on the other end of the phone betrays a still fragile condition linked to his Covid-19 infection. His little laugh, when told that he is twenty years younger, triggers a fit of cough. This week, lung checks will determine the length of his sick leave.
This is the first time that this “perfectly healthy” sports man has spent his nights in a hospital bed. Hospitalized for two weeks in April, Zouhir considers that he "risked his life" to go to work.
Since the start of confinement, he had changed nothing in his routine: departure at 5 am from Evry-Courcouronnes (Essonne), RER, carpooling with a colleague to the Monoprix des Passages, in Boulogne-Billancourt. This is where he has worked for nineteen years. “When I was in the hospital, a lot of colleagues called me, but not a message or a call from my management. Absolute silence, ”says the employee, bitter.
15 days of hospitalization
Like many employees in large distribution, Zouhir hoped to receive the exceptional bonus of 1,000 euros paid at the end of the month. However, this trompe-l'oeil bonus is calculated in proportion to the time of attendance. Because of his fifteen days of hospitalization, from April 7 to 21, Zouhir will only receive part of it.
Only employees present full-time, without a day of absence, between March 16 and May 10, will benefit from the maximum amount. Part-time students or employees who have put days off months in advance, without having the right to cancel them, find themselves in the same situation as Zouhir.
"His mistake was to have caught the Covid-19"
An "injustice" denounced by the CGT. "His mistake is to have caught the Covid-19 and to be absent from the store since his hospitalization," criticizes Alain Sylvère Tsamas, union representative Monoprix Gambetta, in Issy-les-Moulineaux. Even store managers don't understand. It is a premium of shame. "
Monoprix does not wish to "comment specifically on this situation". But the brand confirms the payment terms. "It is a system based on equity, depending on the effective presence of the employee, does one justify at Monoprix. A collaborator present for nine weeks is more impacted than one who is only there for five or six weeks. We do not discriminate them based on their work stoppage. ”
"There is no consideration towards the employee"
Like Monoprix (Casino group), Lidl and Auchan apply the same principle. All statutes (manager, employee, supervisor) and all contracts (permanent contract, fixed-term contract, interim) are entitled to it.
But Zouhir feels fooled. "There is no consideration for the employee," he says. They only think about money when they have made a phenomenal turnover. "
Leaflets to denounce their working conditions
Monoprix did not want to communicate on this subject. According to the CGT, turnover has sometimes jumped by 200, even 300 points compared to the previous year. "It was Christmas every day," says Alain Sylvère Tsamas. At the same time, the salary increase has been 0.8% since May 1. We will not continue to collect the crumbs! "
Hauts-de-Seine Newsletter
Every morning, the news of your department seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
Zouhir does not know where or how he got the virus, but the employee points to flaws in his protection. "I work in the fruit and vegetable department, I didn't have gloves while customers handle the products," he says. We are given a mask a day while we work six hours. "
VIDEO. Death of Aïcha Issadounène, cashier in Saint-Denis: "My sister wanted to help people"
On the Monoprix side, we ensure that there are a sufficient number of masks and gloves, and that the disinfection of the carts and other contact points has been reinforced.
This Tuesday, the CGT will launch towing operations in front of the Monoprix of Boulogne-Billancourt and Issy-les-Moulineaux, at least, to denounce their working conditions and the "thanks" of the brand.
Our articles on the coronavirus:
- A global crisis: our latest articles published
- In figures: our dashboard to monitor the epidemic
- Confined life: advice, testimonies and rules to respect
- Coronavirus, the essential to know: every day at midday, our newsletter to take stock
- In questions: the editorial staff's answers to your questions
- Tribute: these caregivers died on the forehead
- Economy: consequences for companies and employees
- Podcast: closing, reopening… the school facing the coronavirus, story of a puzzle