The employees in the O2 building ask the VU to provide safe outdoor sitting spaces, where they are shielded from chronic harm by air pollution and noise, and protected from car accidents.

What is the current situation:

• Space for spending lunch and coffee breaks inside the O2 building is limited
• Wooden benches were placed in front of the building to provide the O2 employees some outdoor sitting space. The high need for outdoor space is evident as those benches and the pavement surrounding the O2 building are always full during lunch and coffee breaks.
• However, the benches in front of the O2 building are placed in an unsafe space
  • First, they are next to a busy 4-lane road which jeopardizes employee’s health because of high air pollution and noise levels.
  • Second, there are no barriers to protect employees from cars. Accidents and near-accidents happen on a daily basis and a woman sitting on the benches was injured by a car on 25. October.*
• A safe outdoor sitting space for O2 employees to enjoy lunch and coffee breaks with colleagues
• Lunch and coffee breaks in day light and fresh air to improve our health and reduce stress levels
• Appropriate measures to improve mental health of employees, instead of exaggerated prohibition policy that harms the wellbeing of the majority

The O2 building contains two very nice roof top terraces that would provide sufficient space for all employees to sit safely outside. Ironically, VU prohibits access to those outdoor spaces to prevent suicide attempts, but this policy indirectly puts the life of its employees at risk, as shown by the tragic incident of 25. October.

When comparing the two situations, we think that it is incomprehensible that the balcony is deemed too risky to use, whereas the sidewalk is proven to be dangerous.

What do we want:

WE ASK THE VU TO OPEN THE O2 BALCONIES!

* On 25. October, a terrible accident happened. A car involved in an accident ran into a woman sitting on one of the wooden tables in front of the building. She was injured and had to be brought to hospital. Some weeks earlier, another car broke through the barriers of the public transport area. O2 employees observe dangerous situations and close-to accidents on a daily basis. There are no physical barriers to protect us from the cars.