Staffing of activities at an emergency level – activation of a provision

Staffing of the operations of the capital region's municipalities on
Emergency level
– activation of a provision in the law on civil protection

The Civil Protection Committee of the Capital Region has decided that
to activate provisions in the law on civil protection to ensure that services
the municipalities in the capital region remain intact during the state of emergency
is suspended due to COVID-19. The municipalities in the capital region are; Reykjavík,
Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær, Seltjarnarnes and Mosfellsbær. The locations of these
local authorities are facing care challenges due to the pandemic, both because of
sick leave or absence of staff who are temporarily in quarantine.

It is clear that certain
Services within the municipalities must be maintained and therefore
it is necessary to staff positions within these service units. To ensure that
that this operation is equipped to deal with the situation that could arise
In the coming days, the use of it needs to be activated.
a temporary provision in the law on civil protection which was adopted on
30th March and discusses The civil duty of public sector employees.

The legal provision is as follows:

It is the civic duty of public sector employees to perform their duties in
acceptance of civil protection at a time of danger. Public authorities are permitted to entrust
temporarily changing the duties of staff and transferring staff
temporarily between workplaces and public bodies to carry out tasks that
have priority in an emergency. Employees will maintain their unchanged pay and conditions under such circumstances.
circumstances. However, an employee is exempt from the above-mentioned duty if their state of health
of him, or another person for whom he is responsible, such that his safety
and that health is placed in particular danger by entrusting him with such duties.
of staff. This provision shall cease to have effect on 1.
January 2021.

This means that the local authorities in the capital region are
permitted to assign employees temporarily altered job duties and move
Staff temporarily between sites to carry out the tasks that have
Priority in a moment of danger. Employees will maintain their current pay and conditions, except in those cases
in cases where they take on work that is generally paid higher wages
for or if the contribution of labour exceeds the normal obligation to work. This authorisation is
Valid only while a civil contingency emergency level is in effect.

Examples that may fall under this legal provision:

• In light of the fact that sports facilities, swimming pools and
  Cultural institutions have closed, as that workforce can be utilised for priority tasks.
  e.g. in the field of social welfare services or education.
• It is possible to hide from teachers that they are teaching at other times.
  but a work report indicates or change teaching to distance teaching. Only are
  Additional payments are made if the workload increases.
• If day care for the elderly or disabled closes, it is possible
  to utilise those employees to provide home care within
  of the welfare service.

It is important that managers exercise moderation if they are to
to make use of this authority and not to go further than is necessary. Desirable
that all decisions on changes are taken in as good cooperation with
employees and possible. Also, it should be borne in mind that an employee is exempt
the aforementioned duty is his health, or that of another individual for whom he is responsible
responsible for, in such a way that his safety and health are placed in particular danger by
to entrust him with such duties.