78 employees in the financial sector have had their corona-related injury recognised
A specific date is key when deciding whether a Covid-19-related injury may be recognised as a work injury, Finansforbundet's social worker explains.
Compensation or not
Having had a work-related injury recognised does not imply that you are entitled to compensation. Once the work-related injury has been recognised, AES will decide whether you have suffered a permanent injury. If you are suffering from permanent health problems owing to the injury, and the permanent damage is at least 5%, you are entitled to compensation.
Michael Dreyer has been involved in many of Finansforbundet’s cases about work-related injuries associated with the Covid-19 infection. And the illness has had very different consequences for individual members, he explains.
While some suffered little or no injury, others have been severely affected by long-term side effects.
"Some have neurological disorders, while others suffer from tinnitus, fatigue, migraines, cognitive impairment, memory loss or motor difficulties," Michael Dreyer says.
He explains that it's important to report a work-related injury if you notice that you have developed long-term side effects.
"You have one year to report a work-related injury once you’ve noticed any of the above symptoms, and we recommend having your general practitioner report it as soon as possible after the diagnosis," Michael Dreyer says.
Infected behind the counter or by a colleague
Initially, banks in Denmark were not included in the measures announced by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the now historic press conference on 11 March 2020 to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Still, some banks chose to close their physical branches, while others stayed open.
The team of social workers at Finansforbundet has heard examples of financial sector employees who were infected working behind the counter at the branch of the bank, on courses or by being in contact with an infected colleague.
"Some of those who were infected during the first wave were infected because people didn't pay as much attention to protective equipment and so on back then," explains Michael Dreyer.
Fakta
- 1 February 2020:
Covid-19 may be recognised as a work-related injury if diagnosed, and there is proof that the person was exposed to a specific infection at work or that the infected person is exposed to a particular risk in connection with work (frontline staff). - End of January 2022:
Covid-19 will be recognised in line with other infectious diseases, which means that the unmistakable, close contact with someone carrying the infection or transfer of fluids at work is required to have the infection recognised as a work-related injury. - 1 April 2023:
Covid-19 is no longer to be reported as a work-related injury. That is because the Danish Health Authority has changed the categorisation of Covid-19 from an overall dangerous disease to an infectious disease such as influenza.
Risk of becoming infected at work no longer greater
In addition to the initial lockdowns, the authorities introduced a ban on gatherings, required face masks and other measures in an attempt to minimise the spread of Covid-19.
When the many restrictions were lifted on 1 February 2022, the contagious omicron variant was spreading rapidly in society.
Therefore, the guidelines were changed based on the grounds of "the risk of infection in the workplace being no greater than outside the workplace" as stated by the Danish Working Environment Authority in the text accompanying the updated guidelines.
And that means that the usual procedures for having infectious diseases recognised as a work-related injury apply, explains Michael Dreyer .
"After the cut-off date, it's therefore not enough that you’ve worked at the cashier’s desk in the bank and served a customer with corona.
Those whose infectious diseases are recognised are primarily healthcare professionals or others who can prove they have been in contact with a patient, and it is absolutely obvious that the infection was contracted on the job," he says.