An Austrian energy supplier is moving its employees into power plant dormitories to stop them catching the Omicron variant, going off sick and forcing blackouts in central Europe.
The drastic step by Vienna Energy means 50 employees will have to camp out at work for at least four weeks, cutting them off from an outside world where scientists expect a fifth wave of infections to hit Austria.
The move comes amid real and predicted staff shortages across Europe as the fast-spreading Omicron strain leads to record infection numbers in countries including Britain, France and Italy.
It also comes as Europe’s energy supplies face a squeeze from tensions with Russia, closures in France and the looming end of nuclear power generation in Germany.
“Safety comes first,” said Vienna Energy chairman Michael Strebl. “This is a far-reaching step, but a necessary one to guarantee supply under all circumstances.”
The company’s “first priority is that Vienna’s heating is warm and the lights are on at all times”, he said.
Some employees previously isolated at power plants in the first weeks of the pandemic in March 2020, the company said, including 22 people who will do so again this time.
Austria’s infection numbers are rising again after falling from a November peak of Delta cases. The country plans to make vaccinations compulsory next year.
Across Europe, staff shortages in health care, aviation and other industries have disrupted the holiday season as Omicron runs rampant.
Many transatlantic flights from European cities were cancelled – including London, Berlin and Amsterdam – after flight crews were hit by illness.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz used concerns over potential shortages in the police and fire brigade as justification for restrictions that took effect this week.
In France, the pandemic has disrupted maintenance at the nuclear reactors which supply most of the country’s electricity.
Cold weather in January could lead to contingency measures such as reduced voltage or power cuts of up to two hours, said French grid operator RTE.
In Britain, about 4,580 hospital staff in London were absent for virus-related reasons on Boxing Day, up by almost a fifth on the previous week. Ministers have resisted calls to impose restrictions in England.
The head of public health at Imperial College London said the country faced the “twin pressure” of rising hospital admissions and large numbers of health workers being unwell.
Dr Azeem Majeed said he was required to test twice a week as a National Health Service worker, but often found no testing kits in stock.
If temporary overflow hospitals were needed, it would be “a struggle to find the staff to deal with those patients”, he told Times Radio.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Read more from Mina Al-Oraibi
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
