Extensive survey: Service sectors need to invest in work orientation – new guide offers solutions
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health media release, 24 January 2023
The guide was produced as part of the “Well-being at work and competence in the service sectors” project aimed at surveying the impact that recent changes had on work in the service sector. The project aimed also to identify solutions to developments that are problematic from the perspective of well-being at work.
“Increased mental and physical stress and hurry are worrying developments. In addition, workplaces are still recovering from the stresses of COVID-19 and there is a shortage of workforce. Investing in the quality of work orientation allows providing professionals in help in their work from an early stage,” says Sara Lindström, Specialist Researcher and Project Manager for the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
Experience of hurry and dissatisfaction with work orientation highlighted
The two-year research project carried out two extensive surveys aimed at service sector employees in 2021 and 2022. The data was compared to comparable data gathered in 2008. The respondents worked in the retail, accommodation and restaurant and real estate service sectors.
Increasingly varied work hours combined with a decrease in the ability to influence working time and work shifts pose a threat to well-being at work. The share of employees who experience hurry has grown a significant 15–20 per cent, depending on the sector. The share of employees who feel their work is physically and mentally strenuous has increased by 30–40 per cent.
Satisfaction with work orientation has decreased as much as 5–10 per cent in various service sectors. Only approximately 60 per cent of service sector employees feel that they have received good work orientation for their work.
“The changed circumstances require increased work ability management in order to have an impact on employee retention and attractiveness of workplaces. Important measures include investing in proper work orientation, taking the changes into consideration in organising work, increasing employees’ ability to have a say about working hours and ensuring support by supervisors,” says Irmeli Pehkonen, Senior Specialist for Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
Work engagement has not decreased
However, there are also positive developments in many areas of work life in the service sectors. Threatening situations and violence by clients have decreased over the last 15 years. There have been positive developments in regards to satisfaction with the work of immediate supervisors as well as the support and encouragement provided by supervisors and colleagues for work well done. Work engagement is still common in the sector.
“The results will likely be reflected on the ability of workplaces and the entire sector to retain employees as well as productivity, competence and well-being at work. The survey provides an important overview for the service sector. Hopefully, companies will finally realise the importance of investing in work orientation, if they haven’t already,” says Antti Veirto, Research Manager for Service Union United PAM.
See the guide Onnistunut perehdytys palvelualoilla (successful work orientation in service sectors): Onnistunut perehdytys palvelualoilla | Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (ttl.fi)
Well-being at work and competence in the service sectors research project
- The research surveys were conducted by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and it was targeted for members of Service Union United PAM. The three surveys gathered a total of 12,000 responses.
- Funding for the research project comes mainly from the Finnish Work Environment Fund. Co-operative partners include Service Union United PAM, Finnish Hospitality Association MaRa and Real Estate Employers.
- Final report of the project: Työhyvinvointi ja osaaminen palvelualoilla (julkari.fi)
- Survey report of the project: Töissä palvelualoilla : Kyselytuloksia työhyvinvoinnista ja osaamisesta 2008, 2021 ja 2022 (julkari.fi)
- More information on the project: Well-being at work and competence in the service sectors | Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (ttl.fi)
For more information, please contact
- Sara Lindström, Specialist Researcher and Project Manager, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, +358 (0)43 824 4521, sara.lindstrom@ttl.fi
- Irmeli Pehkonen, Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, +358 (0)40 708 3784, irmeli.pehkonen@ttl.fi
- Antti Veirto, Research Manager , Service Union United PAM, +358 (0)50 465 7501, antti.veirto@pam.fi
Keywords
Contacts
Juha Hietanensenior specialistTyöterveyslaitos | Finnish Institute of Occupational Health | Arbetshälsoinstitutet
Tel:+358504773267juha.hietanen@ttl.fiPäivi Lehtomurtosenior specialistTyöterveyslaitos | Finnish Institute of Occupational Health | Arbetshälsoinstitutet
Tel:+358504156309paivi.lehtomurto@ttl.fiLinks
About Työterveyslaitos
Well-being through work
The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) researches, develops and specializes in well-being at work. It promotes occupational health and safety and the well-being of workers. It is an independent institution under public law, working under the administrative sector of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. It has five regional offices, and its headquarters are in Helsinki. The number of personnel is about 500.
For the media | Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (ttl.fi)
Subscribe to releases from Työterveyslaitos
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Työterveyslaitos by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Työterveyslaitos
Kutsu 3.5. klo 9: Hyvinvointialueet tiukoilla – mutta mikä sotessa sujuu?26.4.2024 10:50:59 EEST | Kutsu
Työterveyslaitoksen Työpuntari-webinaarissa esitellään sote-alan onnistumisia ja pureudutaan digitaalisiin järjestelmiin. Ääneen pääsevät sekä tutkijat, kehittäjät että sote-ammattilaiset.
Var fjärde anställd tror att klimatförändringarna kommer att ge fler arbetstillfällen24.4.2024 08:00:00 EEST | Tiedote
Majoriteten av löntagarna tror inte att klimatförändringarna kommer att ha en dramatisk inverkan på arbetsmarknaden. Mycket få tror att klimatförändringen kan leda till att de förlorar sina egna jobb. Löntagarna önskar att deras arbetsplatser ska vara aktiva i fråga om ekologiskt hållbara val. Det förekom avsevärda skillnader mellan olika branscher i fråga om klimatåtgärder.
Joka neljäs työntekijä uskoo, että ilmastonmuutos tuo itselle lisää työmahdollisuuksia24.4.2024 08:00:00 EEST | Tiedote
Enemmistö palkansaajista ei usko ilmastonmuutoksella olevan dramaattisia työmarkkinavaikutuksia. Hyvin harva uskoo, että ilmastonmuutos johtaisi oman työn menettämiseen. Palkansaajat toivovat työpaikoiltaan aktiivisuutta ekologisesti kestävissä valinnoissa. Toimialakohtaiset erot ilmastotoimissa olivat merkittäviä.
One in four employees believe that climate change will provide them with more job opportunities24.4.2024 08:00:00 EEST | Press release
The majority of employees do not believe that climate change will have a dramatic impact on the labour market. Very few people believe that climate change would lead to them losing their job. Employees want their workplaces to be active in ecologically sustainable choices. There were significant sector-specific differences in climate actions.
Ny metod för att stödja sysselsättningsförmågan när anställningsförhållandet upphör17.4.2024 08:00:00 EEST | Tiedote
Arbetshälsoinstitutet har publicerat anvisningar och blanketter med vilka arbetsgivaren och företagshälsovården kan hitta de arbetstagare som behöver konkret stöd för att sysselsättas på nytt. För närvarande omfattar inte omställningsskyddet alla arbetstagare som kunde dra nytta av företagshälsovårdens stödåtgärder före anställningsförhållandets upphörande.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom