Overly personal questionnaires about illnesses, mandatory visits to the company doctor and sometimes high salary losses: A former personnel representative at Wiener Linien severely criticized the way sick employees were treated – we reported. Now an ex-company doctor is opening up about it.
For six years Dr. Danut H. has been responsible for certifying bus, BIM and metro drivers whether they are suitable for the service or not. Until February 2024. Then he was fired for alleged misconduct.
From his point of view, is there any truth to the ex-HR representative’s claims?
Often only a short assessment time
The doctor explains from practice: Anyone who was ill for two months or longer – and there were several during the corona pandemic – had to report all findings to him.
However, he would have only had 60 minutes to assess the employee. A time limit from ‘top down’, says the doctor. “For more complicated cases, one hour is not enough. “That is not enough for a good assessment,” says Danut H.
Covid has increased psychological stress among staff. This made some of them unfit to drive. Depending on their time on duty, those affected would have been transferred to the control center or to other positions outside the passenger service. To be more precise: employees could apply for open vacancies there. The doctor does not know whether this will lead to wage loss and what kind of wage loss this entails.
Company doctor complains about dismissal
Wiener Linien strictly rejects internal timelines for medical reports. “That doesn’t exist.” The doctor was dismissed due to several serious incidents relevant to service law. Which one? For data protection reasons, the company is not allowed to say that. The 53-year-old is now suing for his dismissal. Date of next hearing: early December.
For his lawyer Johannes Bügler, the accusations of the ex-employees are a sign of questionable company policy: “They obviously want people who do not make ‘crumbs’ and not people who care about others.”
When asked by Krone, Wiener Linien could not answer how many employees have been internally transferred from driving activities due to Corona.
“Whether employees are fit to drive or not is determined by a doctor during a suitability examination. The Wiener Linien then only receives information about whether it is suitable or not; the reason for the unsuitability may not be stated,” the reasoning goes.
One thing is clear: a different position also brings a different reward. It is understandable that there are no field service fees for purely internal services.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
