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Wellbeing at work increases with age – measures to be tailored to different groups

The wellbeing of staff in the workplace seems, overall, to improve with age. Wellbeing more clearly improves among white-collar staff than among blue-collar workers.

Nevertheless, there are large differences in the level of wellbeing in the workplace between companies. Special attention needs to be paid to the wellbeing of young employees and blue-collar workers. These were some of the results of a study carried out in the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries’ Good Work - Longer Career project.

“If we want results, then measures need to be separately tailored to different age and staff groups,” Said HR Chief Sari Peltola of Helvar Oy.

Members of staff also need to find the courage to speak up about the things that affect wellbeing in the workplace. Practical improvements in the workplace improve trust. Commitment, a systematic approach and working together will bring results.

A new kind of culture in development discussions

“In the technology industry, there is a considerable need for a feedback culture that is regular and creates the incentive for improvement,” said the project’s expert advisor on wellbeing in the workplace, Prof. Juhani Ilmarinen. Supervisor feedback was on the list of improvements in almost every company. This has created the need for a new kind of culture. There is the desire for annual development discussions between supervisors and their subordinates in all staff groups.

Minna-Maria Hyrylä, HRD advisor at AGCO Sisu Power Oy, used the project’s ‘Fit for Work House’ model as the frame of reference for planning a new template for development discussions. “The aim of the new model is to go through all the floors in the Fit for Work House. Earlier discussions have focused more on topics on the work and skills floor,” said Hyrylä.

One hundred new participant companies

According to the project’s leader, Tiina Hartikainen, the aim of the project is to promote wellbeing in the workplace, extend careers and create time for joint activities in companies. Standardized tools make it possible to compare results. The Good Work – Longer Career project will be expanded in 2012–2013, during which time the target is to get 100 new technology-sector companies to participate. In the expansion phase, technology-sector companies will be provided with the tools and models developed during the pilot phase. The project’s expansion phase will begin with a press event in Helsinki on 8 December 2011.

The project’s website: www.tyohyvinvointi.info

Additional information:
Tiina Hartikainen
Project manager, Good Work – Longer Career project
Federation of Finnish Technology Industries
Tel. +358 50 586 2879
tiina.hartikainen@teknologiateollisuus.fi

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