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27.03.2026 08:00

When illness became punishment

In this blog post, Lawal, a member of PAM, shares his experience of working life in Finland and the importance of support during difficult moments.

Close-up of two seated people in an office: a person in the foreground leans forward with hands clasped near their mouth in a tense, worried posture, while the other person beside them rests a reassuring hand on their shoulder, conveying concern and support.
Illustrative image by Andreswd (Getty Images)

I arrived in Finland with lots of hope in my heart, joy and a burning desire to achieve greatness, with dignity in my hands. I had worked in the banking industry for over 10 years. As an experienced footballer, I was in good physical health. I currently hold an MSc in Business Administration from my home country and arrived in Finland with hope of continuing my career.

I believed that if I worked smart, worked hard, and followed Finnish rules and laws, I would be protected by the system. I never imagined that being sick would be used as a yardstick for punishment.

Starting over in Finland 

When I arrived in Finland as a dependent, I had a burning desire to continue my career path as a banker, but I encountered a language barrier. I had to learn the Finnish language and join the integration process. 

So I sought a job to assist my spouse with bills, and the only available job was cleaning. I started with dedication, giving my very best every day.

When I got sick, everything changed

I had only worked for 8 months when my health began to fail me. My body wasn’t used to such demanding work tasks, where you have to clean within very unrealistic time limits.

Cleaning work requires physical strength, and the working environment can make it even more difficult to achieve the goals set by supervisors.

Because I said I was sick and not well, my contract was suddenly reduced. Not gradually, not with care, and not through any occupational health discussion. It happened in a way that made me feel disposable. I felt useless. From a full working life, I was reduced to barely surviving hours.

I was confused, scared and deeply hurt. I had never been taught how occupational safety negotiations worked. I did not know the right process. I only knew I was sick and asking for help.

I sent an email to my supervisor explaining my health challenges, and she invited me to the office to sign a new contract of just 4 hours and 30 minutes a week. I was assigned to a very big worksite far from my home and warned not to use the company car going forward.

That moment broke something inside me.

Fear, bills, and feeling invisible 

I remember the nights when sleep refused to come. The fear of bills. The shame of explaining to my family why I was suddenly earning almost nothing.  

For 5 months, my total salary was less than 200 euros. The pain of knowing I was not lazy, I was sick. But to my employer, sickness became a reason to take everything away. 

I couldn’t apply for Kela benefits because my employer said I had intentionally reduced my working hours, so my application was rejected. At the same time, when my contract was reduced, I applied to study in a Finnish language programme, and it was granted. 

When PAM stepped in 

That is when PAM stepped in. When I had no voice, they gave me one. When I had no strength, they stood strong for me. And among them, one man became my lifeline. Isto Yrjönen. I will never forget his name for as long as I live. 

He listened to my story as if it mattered. He did not judge my lack of knowledge about the system. He did not make me feel small. He did not treat me as a problem. He treated me as a human being. 

Through him, occupational safety negotiations were enforced. Through him, my suffering was no longer invisible. Through him, I understood that even in moments when the system feels cold, there are people inside it with warm hearts. 

Justice, at last 

After 5 months of pain, an occupational health negotiation meeting was finally held and sick leave was approved. It was indeed five months of inhumane treatment and fear of injustice. 

PAM did not only defend my case. They defended humanity. Thank you PAM, and a big thank you to Isto Yrjönen. 

The writer Lawal is a PAM member, who wanted to share his experience of hurt and humanity in Finnish working life.

Keywords:

networks part-time work property services sector Well-being at work

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