Lolland Municipality is facing a budget deficit of DKK 531 million, prompting proposals for extensive spending cuts and changes to municipal services.
Among the proposals are plans to phase out municipal operation of Østofte School and Søllested School, while the Skovsgårdsvej childcare centre in Nakskov is also proposed for closure. At the same time, the Havørnen forest kindergarten would be moved from Holeby to Østofte.
If the proposals become reality, the consequences could also be felt in local workplaces. That is the assessment of occupational psychologist Ditte Darko, who points in particular to employees with children.
- This is exactly the kind of thing that can make people consider looking elsewhere and finding a place where everyday life works better. For families with children, it is clearly a disadvantage, she says.
Business Lolland-Falster CEO Mikkel Wesselhoff previously told FemernBusiness that companies are generally confident and that the spending cuts are unlikely to have major consequences for the business community as a whole.
Ditte Darko sees the situation differently from the employees’ perspective.
- This is not something to be taken lightly. Put simply, people need their everyday lives to work. If their children’s daily routines and wellbeing become more difficult, it can put considerable pressure on the family. That can create both frustration and concern.
She therefore believes that companies with employees who are affected should be open about the situation and consider whether they can help make everyday life easier.
- Companies need to be aware of what this does to their employees’ daily lives. If family life becomes harder to manage, it may ultimately also affect whether an employee wants to stay with the company, says Ditte Darko.
The proposals have not yet been finally approved. Lolland Municipality plans to make a decision in principle on the new school and childcare structure as part of the budget process on 8 October, after which changes to the school structure will be subject to a statutory consultation process.
