Lithuanian tech firms offer pay boost to employees serving in military

Four Lithuanian technology companies will pay employees who voluntarily choose military service nearly 1,500 euros a month after tax throughout their service, LRT reports. The initiative is intended to help employees maintain financial security for themselves and their families while serving the state.

Hostinger was among the first companies to join the initiative. It will pay participating employees 2,300 euros per month before tax, or almost 1,500 euros after tax, for the entire period of service.

“Our people bring not only knowledge and experience to work, but also their values. For most of our people, their commitment to Lithuania and contributing to its security occupies an important place in their lives, so we really want to empower them,” Hostinger head of human resources Sofija Čelutkienė said.

The initiative was launched by the Visuotinė gynyba association. Hostinger, Telia, Omnisend and the entire Tesonet group have joined it.

“Business has demonstrated that it can not only invest in its own resilience as a company and in preparing its employees, but also contribute to the state’s efforts and national defence,” association head Tomas Godliauskas said.

Godliauskas said an earlier public opinion survey showed that financial incentives were among the factors motivating people to perform military service.

The participating companies will also preserve employees’ jobs and additional benefits, such as supplementary health insurance, throughout their service.

“We understand that during such service, employees’ financial income decreases. We want employees who are considering contributing to the country’s defence to know that this reduction in income will not be an obstacle that makes them abandon that step,” Telia employee benefits head Inga Abraškevičė said.

Omnisend chief executive Rytis Laurinavičius said military service could create difficulties, particularly for people who have jobs, families and financial obligations. He said the companies hoped the financial incentive would encourage more people to serve.

The state also provides financial payments to conscripts performing mandatory initial military service. During the nine-month service, they receive 340 euros per month for personal expenses, followed by an incentive payment whose size depends on their service assessment.

The best-rated soldiers can receive about 9,000 euros in total. Including the employer’s financial incentive, an employee who completes the service could receive more than 20,000 euros.

Voluntary mandatory initial military service is available to people aged 18 to 39.

A recent Norstat survey commissioned by the Visuotinė gynyba association found that almost 80% of residents support universal conscription. Lithuanian Armed Forces Commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras has said the military will be ready for it by 2030.