YTK is preparing to receive the peak of applications
The lay-offs due to the coronavirus epidemic have increased the number of applications for unemployment daily allowance in all unemployment funds and caused a congestion of applications as a result of which the processing times will be extended.
The lay-offs due to the coronavirus epidemic have increased the number of applications for unemployment daily allowance in all unemployment funds and caused a congestion of applications as a result of which the processing times will be extended.
Backlog will have been cleared in June
The actual congestion weeks in processing of applications will start in the second week of May, when the processing time will exceed 30 days for the first time. At the longest, the processing time of some application types may extend to around 50 days. The goal is to take the applications for processing within 30 days also in the future. The crisis measures implemented in YTK will begin to affect so that the peak of applications will have been cleared by late June at the latest, and the situation with the processing times will return to normal.
”The number of applications has not, however, increased so quickly and become as high as we estimated in our worst case scenario. We believe that we will be able to act also in the future in such a way that there will not be unbearable delays for our members”, says Sanna Alamäki, Managing Director of YTK.
Forecasts and calculation are specified on a daily basis
The situation changes continuously, depending on how the lay-offs are actually realised and the delays accordingly. At the moment (30 April), new applications sent on 6 April are being processed. So the processing time of those applications is currently around 24 days. Regarding other applications, YTK’s processing times vary from less than 24 hours to around one week.
YTK updates the situation with the processing of applications every day at 9 a.m. at here.
Staff has been increased and processing streamlined
YTK began to prepare extensively for the effects of the coronavirus epidemic already in February through major recruitment plans. During the spring, YTK is hiring one hundred new employees to clear the peak in customer service and processing of applications.
Changes have been implemented simultaneously in induction of employees and the applications process, so that the activities can be enhanced further within the framework of the law. The flood of applications is also relieved with a new version of OmaYTK online service for the YTK members.
Risk management also in exceptional circumstances
The changes caused by the coronavirus epidemic in the employment situation have understandably generated worries about the livelihood of people and the operating capacity of the unemployment funds. The entire society is in a state of emergency due to the coronavirus, and it will have considerable impacts for a long time.
The risks identified also by YTK include changes in the progress of the epidemic and possible cases of illness among staff – if a large proportion of the personnel falls ill, new plans need to be made quickly. The situation has already been anticipated by switching to remote working at an early stage, to keep the employees of the unemployment fund healthy and to secure the operations. Remote working is expected to continue until August.
Unemployment security is mainly financed by the State and the Employment Fund through unemployment insurance contributions. The unemployment funds account for around 5.5% of the financing of the earnings-related daily allowance. YTK’s financial standing is currently stable, and there are no major threats in sight for the coming months.
