DNA leads the way in working life – the Family-Friendly Workplace certification renewed once again, and grandparental leaves approached 100

At DNA, family-friendliness is not a single benefit or campaign but an integral part of the company’s culture and leadership. The assessment by Väestöliitto was based on an employee survey conducted in spring 2026, the results of which showed that family-friendly practices are deeply embedded in the daily lives of DNA employees.

“DNA is an excellent example of how family-friendliness can be built into the everyday operations, decision-making, and culture of a large organization. The renewed certification demonstrates long-term commitment and a desire for continuous improvement says Anna Kokko, Programme Manager at the Family Federation of Finland.

Making the reality of busy life stages visible – DNA participates in the Ruuhkavuodet 2 project

DNA has been actively involved in the Family Federation of Finland’s Work-life balance of older informal carers (Ruuhkavuodet 2), which examines flexibility and workload in working life across different life stages, with a particular focus on caring responsibilities for ageing family members. The project is funded primarily by the Work Environment Fund.

The initiative has provided DNA with valuable research insights and practical perspectives on how working life can be developed to be more human-centric.

”The busiest years of life do not concern only families with children; they can be associated with many different stages of life.” It is important for us to recognize these situations and build solutions that support wellbeing and balance across different stages of both career and life,” says Marko Rissanen, Chief People Officer at DNA.

 

A meaningful milestone: 100 grandparental leaves at DNA

DNA has also been a pioneer in developing family-friendly practices for the later stages of working life. The company introduced paid grandparental leave in 2017, and in 2026 a significant milestone was reached: 100 grandparental leaves have now been taken at DNA.

The leave allows employees to take one week of paid leave upon the birth of a grandchild, supporting intergenerational family bonds.

“For me, grandparental leave was a truly meaningful moment, as it gave me the time to be genuinely present for my family and this new phase of life. It allowed me to be part of everyday life in the new family from the very beginning – not as an observer, but as an active participant. The fact that an employer enables this reflects deep appreciation for family and life as a whole. Initiatives like this show that family-friendliness at DNA is not just a word or a principle, but something that genuinely shows in people’s everyday lives,” says Katariina‑Taina Lunden, one of the employees who have taken grandparental leave.

Family-friendliness is a strategic choice

DNA’s approach to family-friendliness is built on flexible ways of working, trust, and strong leadership. According to the employee survey, particular strengths included leadership practices, the flexibly of working hours and the ease of returning from family leave.

At DNA, the concept of family is broadly defined: it includes all the people and life situations that are meaningful to each employee.

“A family-friendly working environment does not happen by chance. It requires courage, commitment from leadership, and the ability to listen to employees. Our goal is to be a workplace where life can be visible and where people can perform well in different life situations,” Rissanen concludes.

The Family-Friendly Workplace certification has been granted to DNA for a three-year period. DNA will continue to develop its family leave practices and support employees in different life stages – together with its people.

More information:

DNA’s family-friendly practices: https://corporate.dna.fi/family-friendly-workplace

About the Certificate: https://www.vaestoliitto.fi/vaestoliitto/perheystavallinen-tyopaikka/perheystavallinen-tyopaikka-ohjelma/perheystavallinen-tyopaikka-tunnus

Media inquiries:

Marko Rissanen, Chief People Officer, DNA Plc, +358 44 220 3230, marko.rissanen@dna.fi          

Anna Kokko, Programme Manager, Head of the Ruuhkavuodet 2 project, Family Federation of Finland, +358 50 342 0572,  anna.kokko@vaestoliitto.fi                      

DNA Corporate Communications, tel. +358 44 044 8000, communications@dna.fi          

The Family Federation of Finland is an organization that promotes safe relationships, human rights, and wellbeing. We conduct research, influence society, and provide services. www.vaestoliitto.fi/vaestoliitto