Perceived benefit of work ability activities to the company

managers (n=805), staff (n=735), occupational health care staff (n=686)

 

Source: Peltomäki P, Husman K., Liira J., Nykyri E., Piirainen H., Pohjanpää, K, Räsänen K., Suurnäkki T. & Tuomi, K. 1999. Työkykyä ylläpitävän toiminnan barometri 1998 - Väliraportti.

*Increase co-operation of mental health professionals and occupational health care professionals;

*Train occupational health care professionals in mental health issues and mental health professionals in work-life issues;

*Increase knowledge among the general public about the preconditions for and the value of mental health in working life, and develop self-help skills for creating satisfactory working-conditions.

The Finnish Quality of Working Life Survey highlights factors of which employees and employers should be aware in order to create a supportive and enjoyable working environment, which promotes everyone's wellbeing.⁵ When asked what would make their current jobs more enjoyable, employees most frequently cite greater independence in their work followed by more variety and a higher interest level. Sixty per cent of respondents also mention feelings of usefulness and achievement. They list time pressure, enforced pace, poor pay, job insecurity, and lack of appreciation as the major factors making their current jobs less enjoyable.

Activities of Finnish companies: some examples

The following section introduces some measures taken by Finnish companies to promote employees' wellbeing and prevent mental health problems. The companies cited are participating in the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion, which was founded in 1996.⁶ Many of the activities are not specifically called measures to promote mental health but are examples of how to promote a supportive, flexible, and healthy working environment.

NOKIA

Nokia's key growth areas are wireless and wireline telecommunications. A pioneer in mobile telephony, Nokia is one of the world's leading mobile phone suppliers and a supplier of mobile and fixed telecom networks and services and fixed and wireless data communications. Nokia's head-office is in Finland, but it operates globally, with manufacturing facilities in over 10 countries on 3 continents and research and development centres on 4 continents. Nokia employs more than 51,000 people worldwide in over 45 countries.⁷