The University of Eastern Finland supports the well-being of employees by offering comprehensive preventive occupational health care and general medical care at Terveystalo. Occupational health services are also widely available remotely.
Occupational health care is available to all those in an employment relationship with a monthly salary. The university's occupational accident insurance covers all employees also on business trips. The university also has a separate remote work insurance that has expanded the protection of employees during remote work.
We offer the opportunity to work in multiple locations. In addition, our campuses and working environments are continuously developing and offer ergonomic furniture.
Our working hours comply with what is agreed in the collective agreement so that those working in teaching and research roles plan their annual working hours of 1,612 hours each academic year. In addition to the work recorded in the work plan, it is possible to take sufficient continuous leave or vacation.
In expert and supporting roles, regular working hours are on average no more than 7 hours and 15 minutes a day. As a rule, working hours are flexible, which allows employees to decide when their working day begins and when it ends and the length of the rest period, subject to certain restrictions and variations in workload. We support the staff in coping with their work by ensuring a balance between work, leisure time and work requirements!
The length and implementation of the holidays vary depending if you are employed in teaching and research staff or in expert or support staff.
In the work plan, the teaching and research staff agree on their working hours and their use for tasks specified in the work plan. Working hours other than those agreed in the work plan are the employee's free time or, for example, holidays.
The length of the annual leave of expert and support staff depends on the length of the employment relationship. At least 15 years of service entitles the employee to 38 days of annual leave; 30 days of annual leave are offered in employment relationships that exceed one year but are less than 15 years.
The ERGGI ergonomics expert is a trained ergonomics expert who is part of the staff of the University of Eastern Finland. The task of the ERGGI ergonomics expert is to take care of the work ergonomics of the staff in the unit and to inform the unit of what they have learned in the ERGGI network training. The ERGGI person is able to check the ergonomics of the workstation, adjust the equipment according to the user and look for more suitable tools in-house.
We are a family-friendly workplace, as the university employer has placed the family leave reform, which entered into force in autumn 2022, as the first point in their collective agreement.
The University of Eastern Finland offers its employees a tax-free company bicycle benefit as part of the employee's total salary. The company bicycle benefit is tax-free up to EUR 1,200 per year, and by taking advantage of the benefit, the employee can save on average 20–30 per cent on the purchase price of the bicycle.
By supporting commuting by biking, the university encourages its employees to make sustainable choices and to take care of their well-being. The company bike is also available to the employee outside of working hours.
The university monitors and develops the state of well-being at work every two years through a joint occupational well-being survey organised by Varma, an employment pension company. Units also have access to various pulse surveys.
The units organise well-being activities for their employees, for which the university recommends budgeting EUR 100 per person. The university has networks of developers of well-being at work (Tyke) and screen ergonomics experts (Erggi).
The University of Eastern Finland encourages competence development by offering a comprehensive range of free internal staff training. Focus areas include digital and pedagogical competence and management coaching.
The Sykettä exercise services offer versatile exercise opportunities in both campus cities. The services include gyms, group exercise classes, ball games, sports courses and guidance in exercise and nutrition. The university staff can join the Sykettä sports services at a very affordable price per semester or academic year. Read more about the Sykettä services.
The University of Eastern Finland supports the exercise and recreation of staff by offering them the opportunity to participate in the Sports Afternoon organised once a semester.
The staff also have a break exercise application in their use that guides them to take care of adequate breaks, recovery and the well-being of body and mind.
The university's campuses have several restaurants that offer a versatile lunch selection at an affordable staff price.
Staff can get discounts with the university staff card. You can find the list of stores granting discounts on the University's Heimo intranet and in the electronic ID card application.