Opportunity for approximately 3,200 employees to work from home two days a week Alfa Bank promotion of the pilot application hybrid model Job for employees of central services and subsidiaries of the group at home.

The remote work model is voluntary and will be implemented as a pilot project from May 15 and within six months to test it, draw the necessary conclusions and institutionalize with the necessary changes and variations.

Already from the first day of informing employees, according to “K”more than 120 applications were submitted by employees wishing to join the pilot program, with managers estimating that at least 80% of employees in specific positions (approximately 3,200 employees, of which 2,900 in central services bank and the remaining 300 in the group’s subsidiaries).

Those who wish must submit an application for acceptance by the end of the month, for the subsequent signing of an addendum to the contract, with the conditions and obligations provided for by the relevant legislation for both parties, employees and employers.

The remote work model will be tested at Alpha starting May 15 for six months.

Of course, one way or another, the vast majority of these workers were employed throughout the previous period – from the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and henceforth – with the so-called hybrid work model. After all, this is the main choice of mostly young employees, as well as those involved in information technology and new technologies, while there are quite a few employees who now make it a must distant workto choose or stay at work.

In fact, in our country relatively recently, law 4808/2021 introduced a number of measures, such as that it is applied after an agreement between employers and employees and can only be applied by the employer in exceptional cases, while it can be applied unilaterally upon application employee, in case of a documented risk to his health. The same law specifies that the employer bears the cost of equipment for remote work, as well as the costs of telecommunications, maintenance of equipment and elimination of damage, while the use of a camera (webcam) to monitor the work of an employee is prohibited. It also provides that remote workers have the same rights and obligations as workers on company premises.

The management of the bank proceeded from this decision with the aim, as stated in the statement of the association of employees of Alfa-Bank, to harmoniously combine work, balance in the personal life of employees, as well as reduce the environmental impact by limiting travel and energy consumption. In fact, according to the association, the employment status of employees will not be affected, and the implementation of the new model cannot affect permits. Finally, it is emphasized that working hours remain and are applied in the same way as provided for in collective labor agreements, and the costs are covered by the bank in accordance with the current institutional structure.

It should be noted that since the summer of last year, the Eurobank has been introducing a hybrid model of work in its central services, and the operational labor contract between the National Bank and the trade union provides for such an opportunity.

The new normal in business

Most businesses in Greece estimate that more than half of employees’ tasks can be done remotely, indicating that the hybrid work model is shaping the new business normal. Recent Research BSE in a sample of 251 remote work companies showed that 55% of companies believe that now more than half of the tasks of employees can be performed remotely. In fact, almost 7 out of 10 companies rate the results of remote work as rather positive or definitely positive, while employers believe that almost 9 out of 10 employees prefer the hybrid work model. In order for domestic enterprises to cope with the new challenges of the time, 41% of them provided training in the use of digital media and communication tools. In addition, about 4 out of 10 enterprises are implementing a hybrid model with remote work up to two days a week, and 3 out of 10 enterprises are implementing it with work from home up to three days.

In fact, more than 2/3 of companies believe that remote work has led to a change in their work culture. The study also uncovers a very important element, especially at a time when companies say they are not finding the right “talent”, as for 7 out of 10 companies, the possibility of remote work is considered as an element of staff recruitment.