Helsinki (09.03.2009 - Juhani Artto) The latest results from the ambitious research project on the quality of municipal work places indicate continued positive development. Thus the encouraging trend, observed in previous studies, has prevailed. The study covers all personnel from ten municipalities, including four out of five of the largest cities in Finland.
The latest results reflect the situation at the work places of ten municipalities in 2008. Comparable studies were made in 2000, 2004 and 2006. The personnel of the municipalities have participated actively in the research. In the 2008 study 70 per cent of the employees filled out the questionnaire.
According to the new results employees are better able to influence (than they had been in the past) the length of the working day, and its starting and ending times, as well as the shift schedules. This trend has prevailed since the study made in 2000. Simultaneously the time pressure factor and demands of work have decreased, compared with the 2006 study.
Moreover the employees’ impression of their supervisors has become more positive throughout the whole decade. Similarly, support and encouragement from supervisors to those under them has seen a marked improvement. It has been found that supervisors listen better than before to employees' opinions and give timely information about decisions made.
In 2008, by their own reckoning, 24 per cent of the employees experienced their health status to have lowered. In 2000, the provision of this group was 29 per cent. Almost as large a reduction took place in the provision of those who felt themselves mentally stressed.
According to the replies, there has been a lessening of gender, age and ethnic discrimination at these municipal work places. Also a slight reduction in violent situations and in the threat of violence was registered.
In respect of these positive changes, it should not come as any surprise that three quarters of all respondents would be prepared to recommend (to their friends) their own municipalities as employers. The same attitude is reflected in the changes concerning a willingness to continue working in preference to retirement. In 2008, a smaller provision of employees than in 2006 would have preferred retirement to staying on in the job although the average age of the respondents had risen slightly.
The latest results of the research project will be studied in all work units of the ten participating municipalities and utilised in developing the work places.
The next stage of the study will be carried out in 2010. The ‘Municipality10’ research project is being conducted by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.