FIOH's new projects focus on work resources, inclusion and employment support

In work life and support for finding employment, the same practices, services and pathways do not work equally well for everyone, as people’s situations and support needs vary. That is why there is a need for smoother service packages and a better understanding of the factors that promote finding employment, agency and work engagement.

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health’s new research and development projects examine, among other things, taking neurodiversity into consideration at workplaces, the functionality of services for people with difficulties in finding employment and positive job resources.

"Work life and support for finding employment must be able to better respond to people’s different situations and needs. These projects produce data and operating models for the development of services and workplace practices," says Salla Toppinen-Tanner, Director of the Work Ability and Working Careers unit at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

NEMO provides workplaces with tools for taking neurodiversity into account

The NEMO project investigates the experiences of people belonging to neurominorities in work life and develops solutions for taking neurodiversity into account in daily work and recruitment. So far, there is little research data on the topic, and workplaces lack practical tools for taking neurodiversity into account.

The aim of the project is to strengthen workplaces' competencies and promote finding employment, wellbeing at work and equal participation opportunities for neurominorities. The project will also produce a free neurodiversity toolkit for workplaces.

The project is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF+) and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Learn more: Neurodiversity in work life - solutions for workplaces to promote sustainable careers (NEMO) 

KEKO develops the work ability support and work participation ecosystem

The KEKO project studies and develops ways to sustainably increase work ability support and work participation. The project develops the coordination of services in wellbeing services counties and employment areas in order to improve the situation of people with difficulties in finding employment.

The project will create a common knowledge base on the overall situation of people with difficulty in finding employment, streamline collaboration between the areas and build service chains across organisational boundaries. The aim is to develop solutions and operating models that support finding and securing employment sustainably and that are suitable for use throughout Finland.

The project is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF+) and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Learn more: Ecosystem for supporting work ability and participation in work (KEKO)

Taite+ strengthens job search support and trains new instructors

The Taite+ project strengthens and disseminates Taite job search coaching to promote employment and support jobseekers, especially among vulnerable groups. The project trains professionals working in the fields of employment and work ability support to become new Taite instructors and develops practices for applying the coaching and its materials in various guidance and counselling contexts.

The aim of the project is to strengthen professionals’ competence in supporting job seeking and to promote the job-search skills, mental well-being, and inclusion of unemployed people through Taite coaching. During the project, 100 professionals will be trained to become Taite instructors. In addition, a handbook for applying Taite coaching will be published. The handbook can also be used in general guidance and counselling work without implementing Taite coaching.

The project is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF+) and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Learn more: Taite - Strength from the Group for Job Searching (Taite+) | Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

TOIVO examines the positive resources of work

The TOIVO project examines six positive work life traits: hope, purpose, agency, resources, work engagement, and work ability. The project also examines the links between loneliness, social courage and well-being at work.

The aim of the study is to gain a better understanding of which factors strengthen hope, well-being, motivation and work ability. The project produces research data on the significance of job resources and validates a new multidimensional survey for assessing work ability, for which a user manual will also be published.

The project is funded by the Ami Foundation (main funder) and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Learn more: Hope, purpose, agency, work resources, work engagement and work ability - towards sustainable well-being and success

Further information

• NEMO: Hanna Keränen, Medical Specialist, hanna.keranen@ttl.fi, +358 30 474 2119
• KEKO: Mikko Henriksson, Senior Specialist, mikko.henriksson@ttl.fi, +358 30 474 3202
• Taite+: Miia Wikström, Project Manager, Researcher, miia.wikstrom@ttl.fi, +358 30 474 2164
• TOIVO: Jari Hakanen, Research Professor, jari.hakanen@ttl.fi, +358 30 474 2453
• Salla Toppinen-Tanner, Director, salla.toppinen-tanner@ttl.fi, +358 30 474 2441

See also

• Learn more about all the projects of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health