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Minutes of the Meeting between ZO UZO IKEA Stores ČR and IKEA Česká republika, s.r.o. 4.4. 2025

22/04/2025

Meeting Date: April 4, 2025
Meeting Time: 10:00–12:00
Meeting Venue: IKEA Černý Most
Participants:
On behalf of the Trade Union Organization ZO UZO IKEA stores ČR – Monika Bystroňová, David Polák
On behalf of IKEA Česká republika, s.r.o. – Eva Hrachová, Stanislav Plecitý

Agenda Items:

1. Election of Representatives to the European Works Council

  • The election of representatives to the European Works Council takes place once every four years.

  • A representative and their deputy for each country are nominated and appointed by the trade union, currently until the end of the fourth tertile of FY25.

  • Representatives attend the European Works Council meetings twice a year (the next meeting is scheduled for October). These meetings are held in Sweden and conducted in English. IKEA Czech Republic, s.r.o. covers the costs of travel, accommodation, and an interpreter if the representative does not have sufficient English skills. However, at least a basic knowledge of English is recommended to enable communication with other representatives.

  • Representatives (and their deputies) are required to be willing to attend these meetings twice a year (each being a multi-day business trip, covered accordingly).

2. Information on New Employee Hires and Departures at IKEA

  • The chairperson and vice-chairperson of the trade union will be informed monthly via email about new hires and employee departures, by the 15th day of the month following the event.

  • The summary will contain:

    • New hires: personal number, employee name, start date

    • Departures: personal number, employee name, end date, reason for leaving (agreement, termination during probation by employee or employer, end of fixed-term contract, resignation)

  • The trade union commits to handling this information in accordance with principles for managing employees' personal data.

3. Rules for Taking Extra Time Off and Its Communication to Employees

  • IKEA Czech Republic, s.r.o. is preparing a document to be discussed with the trade union and then sent to the units. This document will clarify and remind employees of the rules for planning and taking vacation and extra time off.

  • Vacation rules are governed by the Labour Code and local policies set and applicable for IKEA Czech Republic, s.r.o., as stated in the Internal Regulations and Common Staffing Principles.

  • Employees are required to take at least 4 weeks of statutory vacation. This should be planned by the end of April. At least 80% of the vacation must be taken by the end of August. Vacation carried over from the previous year must be taken by the end of March.

  • Extra time off must be requested at least 14 days in advance, except in special circumstances where operational conditions and team coverage allow for a shorter notice.

  • Extra time off cannot be carried over into the next year. Non-statutory vacation (max 5 days) may be carried over in exceptional cases.

  • Vacation and extra time off are approved by the manager, who may deny the request based on team needs and shift coverage. If statutory vacation is not planned and a large balance remains, the manager may deny extra time off and order the use of vacation.

4. Can Employees See Changes Made to Attendance in Tamigo?

  • Changes in attendance can only be seen by managers who approve it. If an employee has questions regarding recorded or adjusted attendance, they should contact their manager or the Unit People Planning Specialist.

  • In Tamigo, it is only possible to set notifications for changes to shift plans via email or SMS, not for changes to already worked shifts. Be aware that especially during planning periods, the number of such notifications may be high.

5. Time Allocation for Trade Union Activities

  • IKEA Czech Republic, s.r.o. and the Trade Union Organization ZO UZO IKEA Stores Czech Republic have temporarily agreed on the following time allocation for union activities:

    • Chairperson and Vice-chairperson: 8 hours per month (the union proposes an increase to 12 hours – to be discussed). These 8 hours can be used immediately until any potential revision is agreed.

    • Treasurer and Auditor: 4 hours per month

    • Secretaries: 4 hours per month

  • These hours will be recorded in Tamigo as "Paid Absence – Public Interest." These are intended for activities that cannot be performed outside working hours.

6. Why Are There Significant Differences in the Standards and Variety of Meals Offered in IKEA Canteens Despite a Unified Price of CZK 25 per Meal?

  • IKEA follows global rules, recipes, and suppliers. Units are expected to adhere to these standards.

  • Some units focus more on extending the canteen offerings beyond IKEA standards, providing a broader selection for employees. This depends on the decision of the unit and agreement between P&C, the Food Manager, and the BNO Manager.

  • In the next fiscal year, the Cooking & Eating campaign will also focus on store unit canteens.

7. How Does IKEA Support Employees of Advanced Age? Many Have Worked at IKEA for Over 20 Years and Need Adjustments to Workload and Pace.

  • IKEA allows employees to change positions or adjust working hours. This applies not only to older employees but also to those with health limitations. Arrangements must be discussed with the manager and P&C.

  • If an agreement is reached (e.g., an employee should not work alone on a shift for health reasons), it is advisable to document it at least by email and inform the unit's staff planners.

  • Long-term adjustments require a medical certificate and P&C notification. It is recommended to note such agreements in Tamigo to be considered during shift planning. These conditions should also be reflected in the Talent For All program.

  • There was a discussion on cooperation with employees with disabilities and those from refugee backgrounds. The union appreciates IKEA's efforts to create positions for them, but highlights the lack of team support and guidance. The union recommended involving experts in these matters. More discussions will follow.

8. How Does IKEA Say Goodbye to Retiring Employees?

  • Retiring employees receive an IKEA shopping voucher worth CZK 2,500 and benefits from the TACK! program. If they worked at IKEA for more than 15 years before retirement, they can continue using the employee discount.

  • The union proposed expanding this benefit, e.g., an IKEA food gift basket and a financial gift of CZK 1,000 for each year worked.

9. What Are the Rules for Receiving the New Talent Reward If the Person Has Worked at IKEA Before?

  • An employee who previously worked at IKEA, even in a different position, is not considered a new talent. Therefore, the person recommending them is not eligible for the New Talent reward.

We also returned to the topic of the teambuilding budget and its planning in attendance.

  • No timeline for a change in the amount is set yet. In May, benefit mapping will be carried out, including workshops with units to prepare a proposal for the FY26–28 benefits package. The union requested to participate in this program – possibilities will be clarified.

  • Each employee is entitled to 8 hours for teambuilding, to be recorded in the attendance system. If teambuilding takes place outside the work location, this should be noted in Tamigo as a business trip.

  • These details will be communicated to the store units.

Agreed dates of future meetings: May 16, June 13, August 22, September 19, October 31, November 21, December 12.
The union will send meeting minutes within 3 days of the meeting, and IKEA Czech Republic, s.r.o. will respond within 5 days. Questions for discussion will be published in advance on the website and bulletin boards.

Minutes prepared by: David Polák
IKEA Česká republika, s.r.o. has been acquainted with the content of the minutes, and the document is published including provided modifications and comments.

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