This is stated in the new collective labor agreement, which has just been approved by the members of FNV and CNV. “This includes, for example, the purchase of solar panels, home insulation, the purchase of AAA white goods or a heat pump. But also sustainable mobility, such as an (electric) bicycle,” explains a spokeswoman. The employees have three years to invest the money.
The new collective labor agreement will run from December 1, 2021 to December 1, 2023. Employees will also receive a 3% wage increase as of January 1, 2022 and another 1% as of 2023, and a one-off €750 gross in January 2023.
Unique for collective labor agreement
The climate budget is unique in a collective labor agreement, says Jannes van der Velde of the employers’ association AWVN, which is involved in almost all collective labor agreements. “There used to be a proposal for something like this on the table, but it didn’t make it. This is also a substantial amount.”
“Climate change is an important theme in our strategy. Achmea has ambitious goals in this area. This means that we not only look at our own footprint, but also encourage customers and employees to become more sustainable,” says Bianca Tetteroo, responsible for strategy within the Executive Board.
“By including a climate budget in the terms of employment, we are giving substance to our company’s climate ambition in a contemporary way.”
bereavement leave
Another striking point from the insurer’s new collective labor agreement is that tailor-made bereavement leave without a maximum is added to the employment conditions. “That is stated in several collective labor agreements, but I actually know very few complaints about this subject,” says Van der Velde. “If someone suddenly loses a loved one, his supervisor will certainly release them. You don’t always have to record that officially.”
Achmea is a company that often leads the way in terms of ‘modern employment conditions’. For example, a previous collective labor agreement already included a ‘diversity day’, a holiday that can be taken on a date that is important to you, such as Sugar Feast or Animal Day.