Working Conditions in Finland Case: Nokia Plc., Finland ”Core Business of Company”

A Presentation at I.U.T., Cherbourg, France Week 6, a.d Ismo Koponen, Mr Oulu Polytechnic- University of Applied Sciences

? ? ? What are the three things you find important when evaluating the working conditions your employer is offering…...the three after a proper salary paied on time ? ? ?

Working in Finland Labour and job safety laws are applied to all employees regardless of their nationality.

Collective agreements Unions agree upon pay and working conditions, collectively An agreement exists in most working branches

Work contract Between employer and employee In written form stating e.g.: names, starting date, duration of employement, working hours, trial period, and pay

Working hours Regular working hours (max.): 8 hours daily 40 hours weekly

Wages No universal minimun wage (!) Collective agreements set the practical minimums Wages determined according to professional skills, experience, and geographical area

Examples on wages Construction branch (valid to ) Wage (Euros / h): skill class one: 7,39 - skill class six: 12,03

Pay … … during illness: full pay after having been working for same employer at least a month … for overtime: incresed by 50% or 100% Sunday work is paid by doubled wages.

Accident insurances Mandatory accident insurance If there is a ’sending country’, …

Rest periods and holidays If the daily working time is at least 6 hours the employee is given a 30 min (!) lunch break Full pay also for time spent on holiday; 2 days for each ’holiday credit month’

”Two thruths” ”About a half of the Finnish work force know what is expected from them; the other half is unaware of what they are needed for and what they should focus on” (see article, Feb 10:th, 2006).

Two thruths; continued (ibid.) Fighting discrimination and mobbing: - employers: 90% vs …ees: 60% Long term orientation in recruitment: - employers: 90% vs …ees: 50% Career planning and training: - employers: 65% vs …ees: 30%

Case: Nokia Plc., Finland What is the companys core business ? - What might manufacturing and marketing of A/D Signal Converters for TV Sets be for Nokia Plc. ?

Current situation, and its affect on working conditions A/D Converters do not support the brand Manufacturing and marketing will be quit Message shared with the media: ”Company will focus on its core business”, again ! Work force will be ’let free’ Work force will take a part of the business risk, and face some insecurity

Case: Nokia Plc., Finland Ackording to Finnish media, the company made a record year in Still the annual profit did not exceed the set limit, and the company did not pay any bonuses to their employees. Insert: ”Fortum”

The outcome Today’s working conditions seem to require - high tolerance of insecurity, and perhaps - some intrapreneurship, too. Thank you for your attention, ladies and gentlemen !