Development of working life is more vital than ever before

The Work Life Finland Forum, which will be held for the first time in August 2022, will be significant to the development of working life. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, policies, management and trust have been weighed to be important in the workplace. Renewal of jobs will continue to require active development work, an inclusive organizational culture, and investment in good leadership and continuous learning.

At its best, the development of working life is a long-term and productive process. It is unsustainable for an organization’s operations to be based primarily on and in response to unexpected assignments. Genuine opportunities for staff to participate in the development of workplace operations contribute to the emergence of new ideas, commitment, and the building of a culture of trust.

Finland is in a good place and moving in a positive direction. The majority of wage earners feel that their development opportunities are good and have participated in workplace development activities. According to the latest 2020 Working Conditions Barometer, 56 percent of employees felt that their opportunities for development in the workplace were good.

The development of technology and digitalization open up interesting new opportunities. The winners will be those organizations that, in addition to technological innovations, are best able to rethink their core business, work organization, and management practices. Shared curiosity and genuine dialogue always yield more than mere policies.

Amid the digital green transition, updating employees' skills and enabling continuous learning is key to productivity. In my opinion, investing in the skills of employees on a long-term, proactive and strategic basis is the best possible security for the future for Finnish workplaces as well.

It is worrying that the number of sick leave and invalidity pensions has clearly increased in recent years. The government has decided to launch a comprehensive reform of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, especially from the perspective of psychological workload, but this work also strongly requires workplaces to lead a culture of change. Successful, prosperous workplaces grow, employ and create an environment of well-being.

Finnish work-life culture, which emphasizes co-operation and trust, will create a functioning infrastructure to promote well-being at work even in this decade. The best work-life in the world in 2030 is our important and ambitious common vision.

Minister of Employment

Tuula Haatainen