Project

How is Finland doing?

The research project produces current information on the development of well-being at work in the population and different groups of employees before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The project sheds light on the areas of development and strengths of Finnish work life, based on which solutions and recommendations to promote well-being at work are suggested.

Timetable

1.5.2020–

Objectives

Right before the COVID-19 pandemic that hit Finland in the spring of 2020, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health collected data on the well-being at work of Finnish employees in a research project Resilient employees in changing work life.

After the outbreak, the follow-up of these respondents' well-being at work was continued in the How is Finland doing? study. In the latter stages of the study, new respondents have been invited to take the survey, which has been carried out every six months.

The project provides unique information on the development of well-being at work from the time before the COVID-19 to the modern day. The aim is to provide solutions and information to support decision-making both in workplaces and in society.

Authors of the study

The study is carried out by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and it is currently part of Finland's Sustainable Growth Programme.

The Principal Investigator of the study is Research Professor Jari Hakanen. The study group also includes Janne Kaltiainen (Senior Researcher), Sampo Suutala (Researcher) and Maria Hirvonen (Statistics Specialist). Previously, Anniina Virtanen and Jaana-Piia Mäkiniemi were also part of the study as researchers.

Taloustutkimus Oy carries out the collection of survey data on behalf of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Data and methods

The study charts the experiences of the Finnish population about:

well-being at work and the lack thereof in a broad sense (e.g. work engagement, job burnout, job satisfaction, boredom, workaholism, working while sick),
working conditions and work-related attitudes (e.g. fairness, insecurity, cohesion),
other aspects of well-being (health, work ability, depression, life satisfaction),
different forms of work: effects of remote, hybrid and in-office work to well-being and
individual resources.

The study will also examine the extent to which the above experiences and changes in them may differ between different groups of the population and employees.