The basic precondition for doing work is a healthy, fully functioning individual. In future people's careers will be longer and working life demands set to grow. In order for employees to remain innovative and productive at work a new management culture is required.
At Sovella Oy, which operates in the global market, responsibility for the company's personnel means welfare management, where the mental and physical well-being of employees are monitored and boosted with the help of a carefully designed welfare programme.
"All employees that are interested can take part in a fitness survey, which provides them with valuable feedback about their physical condition. The feedback generated by the survey motivates workers to improve their fitness. The feedback also includes guidance linked to physical recreation and nutrition. In addition the vocational health doctor gives an assessment of which tasks expose employees to ailments of the skeletal system and locomotory organs," explains Sovella Oy's HR Manager Anne Suominen.
The factory's production facilities have been reorganised. The aim is to boost production efficiency and improve work ergonomics and general awareness.
The appeal of work has been increased by offering employees the opportunity to do flexible working hours, which benefits the daily routine of families with small children in particular.
There is a desire to reduce absenteeism through sickness by discussing openly the reasons for missing work and giving consideration to the factors that could improve working conditions.
"Sovella sells its customers well-being, since the products it makes take ergonomic factors among other things into account. The company's values include customer satisfaction, dependability, the desire for renewal, and profitable operation. Without a well-being personnel Sovella would find it impossible to implement its values."
At Sovella vocational well-being is regarded as an investment in the future, when the competition for expert labour really starts to accelerate.
"A prosperous workforce is productive, innovative and does quality work. By taking care of employees' well-being we can safeguard the company's competitiveness and ensure our image as an employer remains attractive. By investing in vocational well-being and employees' ability to cope we can also achieve savings in costs caused by personnel turnover, absences through sickness and disability to work, " Anne Suominen maintains.
One concrete aim of the vocational well-being programme is to reduce absences due to sickness by two per cent and to boost employees' motivation and mental alertness.
Jyväskylä Regional Development Company Jykes Ltd's growth and development service supports the training of supervisory staff.
Photo: Sovella Oy designs and manufactures ergonomic industrial furniture such as work tables and work benches, shelving and cabinets, drawer units, manual assembly lines for various industries, homes and public buildings. Kirsi Laukkanen makes sliding profiles on a press brake. HR Manager Anne Suominen follows proceedings with interest.
words by timo sillanpää photos by petteri kivimäki