Coronavirus

With full commitment

Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of many of its employees, the carmaker carried out comprehensive COVID-19 testing

T

o protect its employees and their loved ones from the spread of COVID-19, ŠKODA AUTO, in cooperation with the KOVO Trade Union, is doing significantly more than what the government requires. Within a few months, it has performed tens of thousands of antigen tests and managed the extremely logistically demanding mandatory comprehensive testing. The first round took place from 7 to 11 March and was attended by all employees who were physically present at work. It the event of a positive result, they were then tested by PCR. Discrepancies and difficulties were flexibly resolved and the organisation modified.

29,000

of the employees at the three Czech plants and in Prague were tested by the carmaker in the first round 

0.66 %

was the portion of ŠKODA AUTO employees who tested positive during the first week of comprehensive testing 

In addition, from 16 March, the measure has been supplemented by providing safe transport to positively tested employees and agency workers to their place of residence if they cannot use their own car. This transport is provided by the carmaker in a vehicle that has a separate area for the driver and is equipped with a respirator and a protective suit, including goggles. The carmaker provides the service free of charge. In the case of a positive test, regular employees who are from outside the Czech Republic (e.g. commuters) may use quarantine accommodation in Mladá Boleslav or Opočno and pay for it in cash or by having it deducted from their salary.

Great media attention

The media was also impressed with the way the carmaker has managed the comprehensive testing. Czech Television, Reuters Agency and Radio Free Europe have reported from the premises of the Mladá Boleslav plant. News about the testing appeared in practically all the leading Czech media. Maren Gräf, Board Member for HR Management, Martin Jahn, Board Member for Sales and Marketing, and Jaroslav Povšík, Chairman of the KOVO Trade Union, met with the journalists in person.

The carmaker has been doing its best to combat the spread of the pandemic since the first wave the last spring, when it adopted an extensive package consisting of approximately 80 measures. Since then, it has invested more than CZK 1 billion in protecting its employees’ health. “Thanks to the measures, only one-tenth of the infected employees got the virus while working at ŠKODA AUTO; other cases arose outside this environment. Statistics tell us that it is currently safer inside the carmaker than in the surroundings”, says Thomas Schäfer, Chairman of the Board.

The carmaker is also ready to vaccinate its employees for free. It launched online pre-registration for vaccinations at the beginning of March, which more than 8,000 employees took advantage of in the first two weeks. Other interested persons can register via the ockovani.skoda-auto.cz. ED

The ŠKODA AUTO management thanks all its employees for their patience, understanding and cooperation. Testing would not be possible without the extraordinary efforts of the people in the testing teams and exemplary cooperation with the KOVO Trade Union.

Questions and Answers

Can I refuse Covid-19 testing?

Government-mandated testing is mandatory. If the employee refuses it, it would represent an obstacle to work without compensation on the part of the employee, and access to the ŠKODA AUTO premises will be denied. At the same time, such an employee would be subject to the risk of sanctions by the public health protection authority. A fine of up to CZK 50,000 may also be imposed on them.

Is there an exception for those who have had COVID-19 in the past 90 days or are already vaccinated? 

No, even in this case, ŠKODA AUTO requires participation in the testing, and any doubts about the test results will be assessed individually through the SG – Health Services and Ergonomics department. Therefore, the exception only applies to employees who continuously work remotely throughout the week without visiting the workplace or is absent for other reasons.

Current information on measures against COVID-19

The carmaker regularly updates all the information on the information page, which is accessible from the ŠKODA Space homepage. There you will find, among other things, instructions on how to download the COVID info card to your mobile phone, which provides an overview of all the valid measures at the ŠKODA AUTO plants. 

You can also contact us with your questions via e-mail at