Agreement in Nyborg Municipality, Denmark guarantees automatic pay increases for social and health care assistants

Trine Rønne Bak has found renewed happiness in her work as a social and health care assistant in Nyborg Municipality, Denmark. A unique agreement between the municipality and the FOA union guarantees automatic pay increases for staff who complete specific training courses offered by the local government. Bak, 36, is thrilled with this arrangement as it addresses the challenges of high staff turnover and absenteeism in her field. “I receive training and a higher salary, which is fantastic. There’s absolutely nothing negative about it,” she said.

Under the agreement, employees who take designated courses in a specific order are ensured higher salaries, ranging from 4,800 to 19,000 kroner annually. Nyborg Municipality has allocated an additional 10 million kroner each year to initiatives aimed at both attracting and retaining employees in this demanding profession.

Trine appreciates the elimination of individual salary negotiations, as the automatic increases provide peace of mind while also promoting knowledge growth. “There are many valuable resources I can use. I work with numerous rehabilitation patients and have taken courses on proper lifting techniques and guidelines,” she explained.

While the municipality has not yet proven the effectiveness of this agreement, the number of full-time social and health care assistants has increased from 62 in 2021 to 135 today. The head of aging services, Solveig Christiansen, believes that the pay agreement contributes positively to employee competency and overall job satisfaction.

The agreement encourages ongoing professional development, making positions in aging and home care more attractive. Christiansen hopes that upcoming employee satisfaction surveys will reflect improvements in job satisfaction and reduced absenteeism, strengthening the workforce while addressing the growing needs of an aging population in Denmark.