Annual Report 2019-2020

12 with the union’s funds, the sickness benefits fund, educational fund and vacation fund. The division is comprised of the staff of the funds, the reception staff and the VIRK-counselors of Efling, typically about 20 people. The service department of Efling was created as a part of organizational changes to the office of Efling on September 2 nd of 2019. The department’s main tasks are to receive union members in the office and offering services via telephone and email. The ser- vice department includes all services having to do SERVICE DEPARTMENT The composition of the service department is as follows: SERVICE DEPARTMENT MAIN TASK Reception Sickness benefits fund Educational fund Recreational fund VIRK counselors The staff of the reception receives union members who enter the union’s offices as well as responding to queries via telephone and email. The reception staff receives documents such as applications for grants from the sickness benefits fund and educational fund and handles other tasks. The staff of the sickness benefits fund receives union members applying for sickness benefits, processes all grant applications and pays out sickness benefits and grants from the sickness benefits fund. The staff of the educational fund processes and pays out grants for institutions and indi- viduals from the educational fund. The staff of the vacation fund drafts rental agreements and books vacation houses, along with selling gift cards from Icelandair and fishing- and camping cards. VIRK counselors assist members of Efling in rehabilitation after illnesses and/or accidents and help union members to reenter the labor market. PROGRESS IN BUILDING UP SERVICES