Elkjøp’s downsizing ended with several part-time employees, says the shop steward. The department store chain denies that they are replacing full-time employees.
– The downsizing in itself was fair enough. It’s tougher times and stuff like that. But that’s the way it’s done. Elkjøp is looking for a reorganization. They would prefer to have fewer full-time employees and more part-time employees.
That’s what Frank Helgesen, shop steward and salesman at Elkjøp Tønsberg, tells E24.
– We actually ended up staffing up. Then part-time came in.
Several employees contest the dismissal
In January, it became known that Elkjøp was to downsize and close stores. The electronics giant announced that personnel costs would be reduced by an estimated 12 percent.
E24 recently wrote about Elkjøp offering employees a “loyalty bonus” of NOK 3,000. Employees who signed also waived the right to bring forward further claims against the department store, including filing a lawsuit against the company under the rules of the Working Environment Act.
Now Handel og Kontor (HK) fears that full-time employees who were offered a severance package from Elkjøp will be replaced by part-time employees.
– What is the background for their fear?
– This is feedback we have received from union representatives and members. Several have entered into severance agreements, in which they waive the right to try whether it was an unfair dismissal. Then you see afterwards that Elkjøp is looking for part-time employees.
That’s what Lena Marie Reitan, second deputy head of Trade and Office, says.
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The LO confederation organizes employees within trade activities and has 579 members who work in Elkjøp. In total, the chain has over 4,000 employees in Norway, according to own websites.
Reitan says that HK is currently working on 14 cases related to Elkjøp and employees contesting a dismissal.
– But if they have entered into a final agreement, it is difficult for us to help.
“A more appropriate staffing”
Everyone who has been offered a termination agreement will be offered and prioritized for vacant positions in Elkjøp Norge for 12 months, writes HR manager Jan Erik Aaserød in a reply to E24.
He denies that Elkjøp has any plans to replace full-time positions with part-time positions. According to Aaserød, more part-time (61 per cent) than full-time employees (39 per cent) have been downsized.
The department store must constantly ensure that there are enough people at work, and together with union representatives they have tried to ensure a good shift plan, according to the HR manager.
Some stores have had too many part-time employees, others too many full-time. “With the process we are currently in, there will be more appropriate staffing going forward,” writes Aaserød.
He points out that the department store chain must have a sustainable economy, and that by making these changes it takes responsibility for thousands of jobs and secures its position as market leader.
“We are in a market that has been and will be undergoing major changes,” writes the HR manager, pointing out that Elkjøp will have to adapt.
Looking for part-time employees in store
A quick search on Finn.no shows that Elkjøp has 34 positions advertised in 21 advertisements, as of 6 March.
25 of these are stated to be part-time positions in one of Elkjøp’s stores.
In a downsizing process, the company has a duty to turn over every stone to see if there is work for existing employees, says Reitan.
– The process has happened very quickly. When we talk to shop stewards and employees, many say that they feel they have no choice. Afterwards, you may regret having signed a termination agreement.
The downsizing was announced on 12 January. On 31 January, the process was completed, says HR manager Aaserød.
– Natural departure
When asked why Elkjøp advertises part-time positions to such a large extent, the HR manager writes that Elkjøp is a large company with many employees.
“… there will consequently be a certain degree of natural attrition during the year, where we must continuously advertise both full-time and part-time positions in order to be able to staff our stores,” he writes.
Several of the advertised positions are in stores that are either franchised and not owned by Elkjøp Norge, or in stores that are not affected by the downsizing, according to Aaserød.
“There are also stores where employees affected by the downsizing have refused a lower fraction of the position, but where the position must then be advertised.”
He reiterates that former employees have priority for vacant positions. In addition, a page has been created with an overview of vacancies throughout Elkjøp Norge. Affected employees are also offered a job search course, writes the HR manager.
Many inquiries
Losing your job at a time of rising prices and higher interest rates is very emotional for many, the HK deputy leader reminds.
– It is not easy to get a new job in a shop now. We therefore encourage all members to contact us before signing anything. They should also not go to meetings alone, but bring a union representative, colleague or friend with them.
Reitan says that the association also receives many inquiries from Elkjøp employees.
– They are often about what to do, that you have signed and regretted it, or whether what you have been offered is correct.
– Only full-time employees who made an appointment
Trade union representative Frank Helgesen in Tønsberg says he understands that Elkjøp needs to save money, but reacts to the fact that it seems as if it is being done by removing the full-time positions.
– With us, only full-time employees made an agreement to quit. Several positions were then advertised, the vast majority of which were part-time, he says.
