"Guardians of Care Stood Their Ground"
In the heart of Chemnitz, the care home's operator, "Primavita ProGen GmbH," failed to meet its obligations. The company's owner, Lars Krüner (52), repeatedly missed payment deadlines. Despite numerous attempts to rectify the situation through phone calls and reminders, Krüner continued to renege on his promises.
Lars Krüner's indecisiveness left Heiko Weser, the care home's long-time employee, in a predicament. Weser, who had been working at the home for 21 years and saw many residents as family, was hesitant to abandon the 27 residents who relied on their unwavering care. "We couldn't just abandon these individuals who required constant attention and couldn't fend for themselves by themselves," Weser said.
For months, Weser and his team continued to provide care, even when they were not compensated. However, their resolve began to weaken as the holiday season approached, and some employees struggled to cover their personal expenses, including rent and groceries.
Employees' Final Stand
As the pack of cards began to collapse, the home's staff decided to take drastic measures. On December 1, they had had enough and halted their services – after seven arduous months without pay. According to Weser, "It was an act of self-preservation."
The local care home supervisory authority intervened, evacuated the facility, and relocated the residents to other care homes in Meißen, Radebeul, and Riesa. The care staff, now bereft of a place to work, readjusted to their new surroundings. Weser observed optimistically, "Fortunately, there is no shortage of opportunities. We're flooded with job offers."
Pursuit of Unpaid Wages
Unfortunately, the employees face an uphill battle to claim their unpaid wages. Each individual must file a civil lawsuit, with slim chances of recovery, especially given the Chemnitz public prosecutor's investigation into Krüner for delaying insolvency.
Michael Deutschmann, a journalist based in Chemnitz, shed light on Weser's plight and the relentless struggle of the geriatric nurses in the local news coverage.
Throughout the pandemic, many geriatric nurses faced personal financial challenges while dedicating themselves to their vital roles in elderly care. Despite the challenging circumstances, the nurses' passionate dedication to their profession and their elderly charges continues to shine through in this trying time.
However, the full extent of the impact on these geriatric nurses, as well as the broader implications for care providers and workers in similar situations, may not be fully known without thorough research and investigation.
