For three decades, Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus [1]) has been conducting extensive interview-based work life surveys, which examine the varied changes in employees’ working conditions. (see below for more details about the surveys). The latest of these surveys, conducted in 2008, explores the
The pension reform in 2005 in Finland aimed to increase the number of years in employment towards the end of a person’s work career (FI0403203F [1]). The reform included a new flexible retirement age, ranging from 63 to 68 years, and the abolishment of some early retirement options. Moreover
A qualitative case study, /New age contract/, which was carried out in 2001, emphasises that long working careers can only be built when working conditions are good and reasonable demands are made of people at all ages. Longer careers than are currently the norm will not be possible unless
People need to get enough sleep in order to stay healthy and to function properly. International comparative studies [1] show that work-related sleeping problems are common in Finland. Some of the factors underlying these problems, such as atypical working hours, are difficult to remedy. [1] www
According to a study carried out in 2003 by the Employers’ Confederation of Service Industries [1] (Palvelutyönantajat - PT), fathers spent 0.2%-0.8% of their official working time on family or parental leave (a period off work of up to 158 days - see background information below). Results show that
International studies have shown that managers, professionals and experts work longer hours than others. The University of Jyväskylä [1]’s study (March 2004) examined working hours among knowledge workers. The research [2] (in Finnish) was based on three different data sources. The first data were
According to preliminary estimates from the Finnish Federation of Accident Insurance Institutions [1], the total number of occupational accidents fell by 2% in 2003 in comparison with the previous year. The frequency of occupational accidents and illnesses (the number of occurrences per million
Since the late 1990s, the rise in psychological stress at work had slowed down. However, in 2003, it started to increase again compared to previous years. This is one of the findings of the Finnish Ministry of Labour [1]’s annual Working Life Barometer for 2003 [2]. The same trend is to be seen in
One third of all care workers in Finland have been faced with physical violence or the threat of violence at work. Two thirds had encountered verbal threatening, criticism or verbal abuse during the previous year. Employees of old people’s homes, health centres and hospitals experienced the threat
In the early 1990s, Finland’s economy underwent a deep recession, which had a profound impact on the rates of employment among different age groups. A new report by Statistics Finland [1], /Early exit from working life among ageing employees,/ examines the working careers of over 66,000 older