Crafts sector largely rejects relief bonus

The €1.000 crisis bonus is being largely rejected by the skilled trades sector, according to a survey by plancraft. More than half of all businesses are unwilling or unable to pay it, while one in ten is already planning to pay the full amount. "This creates inequality and dissatisfaction," critics say.

The €1.000 tax-free relief bonus that employers can voluntarily pay their employees has been approved by the Bundestag. In the current situation, the concept is being met with widespread head-shaking in the skilled trades sector. The software company plancraft surveyed 767 craft businesses nationwide to find out what they think of the crisis bonus and whether they plan to pay it out.

These are the key findings of the survey.  

✔️ 63 percent of businesses believe the voluntary employer bonus is fundamentally wrong. They say the state should provide direct relief, not shift the responsibility onto employers.

✔️ 30 percent rate the model as problematic because it creates inequality between businesses.

✔️ 54 percent do not plan to pay out the bonus. 

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✔️ Seven percent consider the bonus to be sensible. 

The model does not find a majority in any trade group. 73 percent of general contractors say no, as do 63 percent of carpenters. Even among the smallest group of dissenters, the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning (PHVAC) companies, only 39 percent say they will pay the bonus.

However, 14 percent of those surveyed are already planning a payout (ten percent the full 1.000 euros, four percent a partial amount), 32 percent are still undecided, and 54 percent reject it.  

The most frequent argument in the free-text responses from smaller businesses with one to four employees: "Liquidity is not available after three years of price increases."

When asked what would help instead, 32 percent cited tax relief, 29 percent lower payroll taxes, and 20 percent a direct payment from the government to employees. This was followed by reducing bureaucracy (14 percent) and energy cost subsidies (three percent).

Plancraft fears negative effects on the working atmosphere: "Whoever pays encourages employees of other companies to make comparisons."
Those who don't pay end up looking like the stingy one, even though not paying is a business necessity.

Source: plancraft

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