Confronting conflicts bravely at work

Since change is part of the daily life at work, we should not be afraid of the conflicts it brings along, reminds researcher Jaana Venkula.

Uncertainty is a core element of work life – good as well as bad surprises. A person succeeds if he or she has the ability to confront them constructively, says Venkula in Telma’s issue of 30 May.

According to the researcher, more and more people feel that an ever greater proportion of working time is spent on things other than the work itself: trifling hustle-bustle, meetings and reporting. That is why one should know how to ask questions and be ready to question actions.

Venkula’s teachings have been followed at the Espoo office of Insurance Co If. In recent years, If has undergone the turmoil of owner reorganizations and mergers, and the company has now developed into a huge international insurance corporation. Also the total change in the handling of claims applications during the past 10 years - along with information technology - has renewed the working methods in the insurance sector. 

Occupational safety delegate Riitta Virtanen, special claims handler Minna Palmu, and service manager Maarit Lepistö agree with Venkula’s ideas. When people have prepared for the change and everyone has had a chance to participate in developing the work, the problems have been overcome. We don’t even use the words ‘controlling change’ because changes are a part of our everyday work life.

In addition to the topic of change, Telma 2/2008 takes a plunge into underwater work, as well as the functioning of the brain. In the personal interview, Minna Karhunen, Mayor of Karkkila, tells about the city’s crisis and the ongoing changes.

Telma also deals with the career advancement possibilities of young women in small towns, and the suitability of local labour agreements in different kinds of workplaces. The secret of successful work is illustrated by Tapio Liinoja in his column: “A small crisis is the start of a good thing, hush-hushing just leads to a mediocre result.”
 
Telma is a journal specializing in the development of work life. It is published by the Centre for Occupational Safety and the Finnish Work Environment Fund. The journal is targeted at occupational safety personnel, and occupational health professionals, trustees at workplaces and supervisors, work life researchers and communication professionals. The circulation of Telma is 110,000, and Alma Media Lehdentekijät handles its practical implementation.
 
 
For more information contact
Finnish Work Environment Fund: Communication manager Marja-Leena Jylhä, tel. 040 548 8852
Centre for Occupational Safety: Communication specialist Eija Åback, tel. 040 537 1822
www.telma-lehti.fi
www.ttk.fi
www.tsr.fi

Load photo:Jaana Venkula (jpg) (1.1 MB) 
Text:The quality of work life can’t be measured simply with cold numbers, says researcher Jaana Venkula.

The aim of the Finnish Work Environment Fund (TSR) is to sponsor such research, development, and information activities that enhance working conditions and promote the safety and productivity of workplaces.
 
The aim of the Centre for Occupational Safety (TTK) is to improve simultaneously occupational safety, well-being and productivity, as well as the prerequisites of good leadership and collaboration. The activities are targeted at occupational safety and health personnel, and also at supervisors and trustees of enterprises.
 
The Centre offers training, information, materials and development services to work communities. The activities are financed mainly from the employers’ accident insurance fees and administered by the Finnish Work Environment Fund.
 
The Finnish Work Environment Fund and the Centre for Occupational Safety are governed by the central labour market organizations.

Translation: Terttu Kaustia