
Multi-location work requires cooperation between management and employees
A well-managed and healthy work community can benefit from multi-location work in many ways,” says Juha Eskelinen, Researcher.
We use cookies to provide a better user experience and personalised service. By consenting to the use of cookies, we can develop an even better service and will be able to provide content that is interesting to you. You are in control of your cookie preferences, and you may change them at any time. Read more about our cookies.
At work, we have permission to discuss challenges in all areas of life, because stress in private life affects the ability to work, says Terhi Jaakonsaari, HR Director at Solita.
Work ability management is an integral element of our corporate culture, just like business management: when people thrive, business thrives.
Leaders must set an example. It matters what kinds of business decisions we make, what projects we accept, how we talk about various matters and at what time we send messages – if an employee receives an e-mail at midnight, they might feel the pressure to work late.
Supervisors and colleagues, for their part, may notice that a person or their behaviour has changed. It is then natural to ask how they are doing, which begins the assessment and help process. In our view, intervening is caring.
In knowledge work, it is typical that people continue to work for a long time after their working ability has deteriorated, until they hit the wall – and often they hit it hard.
Challenges in private life affect the ability to work, which is why we discuss stress factors openly and want to point out that our wellbeing at home is as important as our wellbeing at work.
We have an in-house coach who holds regular meetings on all situations in life and topical themes, such as the feelings caused by the war, coping and so forth. Sharing experiences is extremely useful, and often, working is easier when one does have to hide one’s problems.
Encounters and discussions with colleagues at the office are important, helping employees to compare their wellbeing with others and notice if they are not well, although they could not find words to describe it earlier. Addressing the problem with the supervisor is a way to receive help at an early stage, for example, through occupational health.
Even challenges in private life can often be solved. The employer can, for example, help in a difficult situation in life be reducing the working hours or arranging care for a sick child.
In addition to occupational healthcare, employees have access to Auntie, a low-threshold mental welfare service. It is particularly aimed at challenges in private life, such as divorce or the death of a loved one. Thus, employees do not have to share everything with their colleagues and supervisor, they can seek help themselves.
As a consultancy company, we cooperate closely with our customers. This spring, we have developed management practices that promote work ability with our customers, analysing what must be taken into account and verified in order to make people succeed in projects and feel great while performing project work.
For example, all our products now include start-up meetings where we also discuss the thoughts and worries caused by the project and what the employees need to successfully carry out the project.
A well-managed and healthy work community can benefit from multi-location work in many ways,” says Juha Eskelinen, Researcher.
Five years have passed since the outbreak of the pandemic. During the pandemic, remote work became significantly more common in order to control infections, but now the situation has gradually returned to normal. But what is the new normal?
People discuss the benefits of working remotely a lot, but the office also has its good sides.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit us unexpectedly and hard, and its effects were felt all over the world. In the fight against COVID-19, Finland chose isolation tactics; closing the borders between regions, closing down restaurants and cinemas and switching to remote working were ways to combat the virus and stop its progression. The remote work phenomenon