Mass layoffs at AlivePlus: what's going on?
Getty Images
On 22 January 2025, the OGBL and LCGB unions, together with employee representatives, signed a social plan with the management of AlivePlus, an organisation dedicated to caring for older people and supporting children with special needs. This was a rare event in the fully publicly funded health and social care sector.
AlivePlus faced financial difficulties due to a mismatch between the number of employees and the actual volume of activities. Jobs were created for which there was no adequate funding. As a result, the company's management announced job cuts, primarily affecting highly skilled employees.
Initially it was planned to dismiss 19 people without compensation. However, thanks to the active actions of trade unions, the number of layoffs was reduced to 9 people. The unions also reached out to other organisations in the social sector to help the laid-off professionals find new jobs quickly.
According to the agreement we reached:
- Employees will be compensated with three additional monthly salaries.
- Employees in junior positions are allocated training with a budget of up to €1,000 per person.
- All dismissed employees are released on full pay during the notice period to facilitate the search for new employment.
The unions believe that layoffs in such an important sector as health and social care are unacceptable for a country with a skills shortage. The OGBL and LCGB demand that political leaders and employers develop measures that will prevent similar situations in the future.
