Pardia membership survey 2013: Job security contributes to coping and endurance at work

According to the membership survey, coping at work is undermined by insecurity in working life, a mounting workload and shortage of time, even if these do not directly manifest themselves in retirement plans. By contrast, mental exhaustion and a reduction in the feasibility of work are factors that clearly cut down on endurance, i.e. how long people remain at work.

The survey shows that insecurity about the future is the most common factor that undermines coping at work (14%). What is noteworthy is that this percentage has doubled between 2002 and 2013. While concern about working conditions has increased, the significance of insufficient pay as a factor undermining coping at work has decreased in relative terms.

It is also noteworthy that with respondents aged 50 and over there is one particular factor undermining coping at work that is not mentioned by younger respondents: 8% of respondents are afraid that they are not able to keep up with the pace of change in working life.

Working careers can be extended by helping employees cope

There have also been changes in the retirement plans of Pardia members. Although respondents aged 50 or over are worried about rapid developments in working life, they would also like to remain employed to a higher age. Compared with the previous survey, the average intended retirement age of respondents has risen from 63.0 years to 63.5 years.

The two previous membership surveys explored what factors can help employees to cope at work and remain employed for as long as possible. The most significant positive factor was job security, followed by less workload and more time, better pay, better management practices and more flexible working hours.

“When we talk about extending working careers, we should note that if insecurity and shortage of time cannot be easily alleviated, it is important to support employees so that they have the strength to cope with their job duties. This includes creating individual work arrangements for ageing employees,” says Antti Palola, President of Pardia.

The need for supporting employees in their job duties is clearly visible in the survey, as the two most significant changes compared with previous surveys concern this specific issue. The percentage of respondents who considered developing more flexible working hours important for employees increased by 4 percentage points, while the percentage of respondents who considered the changing or lightening of job duties important increased by 3 percentage points.

“These are substantial changes within such a short period of time and testify to the increased importance of supporting coping in the workplace on a day-to-day basis,” says Antti Palola.

The Finnish central government is one of the most vigorous reorganisers in Europe

The rate of change in working life has remained frantic over the past two years, and this shows in the results of the membership survey. Reorganisation has been carried out at the workplaces of 84% of the respondents. The most common type of change is the merging of units (49%).

Employee numbers have been reduced at 65% of workplaces, remained the same at 21% and been increased at 14%. The work itself is also perceived to have changed: 74% of respondents reported that their job duties had increased or their scope broadened, while 77% reported that requirements for learning new things had increased.

The material for the membership survey was collected in late September and early October 2013. The survey sample covers 10% of the Pardia membership. Of those who were sent the questionnaire, 52% responded, giving a total of 2,277 respondents. The previous surveys were conducted in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2011. Of the respondents, 68% were women and 32% were men; 68% were employed in central government and 32% in the private sector.

Further information: Antti Palola, President of the Federation of Salaried Employees Pardia, tel. +358 75 324 7501, mobile +358 40 509 6030; Tapio Rissanen, Ombudsman, mobile +358 45 7731 4358.