Wellbeing, health, and safety

Key decisions in personnel management revolve around creating a thriving work community and achieving effective outcomes. Our goal is to support our staff’s work capacity and enhance their well-being. At our organisation, we follow the active caring model in managing well-being, with workplace well-being discussions as a central practice. This model is designed to foster a caring atmosphere and is an integral part of our well-functioning work community.

Effective management of work capacity is based on efficient occupational health cooperation, support for work capacity throughout different career stages, and the concept of ‘work ability house’ (by Finnish Institute of Occupational Health). The components of work ability house include health and functional capacities, competence, values and attitudes, and leadership. Our principles for multilocation work are rooted in self-determination theory, which encompasses three fundamental human needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. These basic needs form the foundation of well-being and are also crucial from the perspective of meaningful work and work well-being. Additionally, each member of the Karelia community bears the responsibility for their own well-being.

Safety is also a crucial factor for well-being within our community. We invest in both mental and physical safety. Every member of the Karelian community can report safety observations, which we regularly address in our safety team. Additionally, every new student and employee participates in a safety walk on campus.

In Karelia, we have developed safety policy principles and House Rules for Safer Space at Karelia. Each community member can contribute to the realisation of a safer environment through their actions. Additionally, we have guidelines and a reporting channel to address inappropriate behaviour and harassment.

In monitoring the well-being of our personnel, we utilise two key tools: an annual staff feedback survey and ongoing mood indicator survey. These mechanisms allow us to assess and address any concerns related to employee well-being.