Action is required to promote well-being at work

“Well-being at work” (WAW, työhyvinvointi) refers to keeping work pleasant and streamlined, and making the working environment and work community safe, healthy, and beneficial to career development. Well-being at work relies on the input of the whole work community. 

Research has shown that better well-being at work can improve productivity as well. 

Performance reviews and well-being at work programmes promote welfare 

Regular performance reviews are essential for promoting well-being at work. The discussion concerns the individual worker’s career and coping with work. It is also an opportunity for discussing the potential effects of ageing on work ability and duties. 

We recommend that employers cooperate with their workers to prepare a well-being at work programme or measures for promoting well-being at work. The measures may be included in performance reviews. 

Examples of well-being at work programme content 

• Ensuring worker competence. 
• Recognising the importance of good leadership and supervisory work in maintaining a good workplace atmosphere and good work ability. 
• Recognising the impact of working time arrangements and shift planning for coping with work. 
• Reducing the stress caused by night work and shift work. 
• Providing opportunities for voluntary part-time work, job alternation leave, and part-time retirement. 
• Providing opportunities for adjusted duties and job rotation. 
• Providing occupational healthcare services. 
• Improving the physical working environment and ergonomics. 
• Communicating the importance of a healthy lifestyle for welfare. 
• Identifying bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, in the work place and deciding measures to stop harassment. 

You can find detailed instructions for preparing support measures for well-being at work in this printable guide. 

Well-being at work cards and training 

Well-being at work card training courses are intended for everyone interested in developing well-being at work at their workplace, primarily occupational health and safety cooperation participants and supervisors. 

The purpose of the training is to start development processes in the workplace, increase cooperation, and organise roles and responsibilities. The training course includes a preliminary assignment. The materials and discussions of the training contribute to further development at work. 

The lessons of the training course will be revised. Participants who complete the training are issued the well-being at work card by the Centre for Occupational Safety. 

Upcoming well-being at work card training courses are listed in the PAM event calendar. Training is also available for trade union branches – read more about commissioned training. 

Useful links 

• Collective agreement of the hotel, restaurant and leisure industry, workers, section 33 b 
• Collective agreement of the hotel, restaurant and leisure industry, supervisors, section 34 b 
• Collective agreement for amusement, theme and adventure parks, section 26 

See also 

• Employers must organise occupational healthcare by law 
• Workplace atmosphere and interactions 
• Older workers – work arrangements, rehabilitation, and support