The ministry’s annual working conditions barometer rose to the mark of 7.99 in 2010 – that’s on the Finnish school mark scale, which makes it a near eight out of possible ten. In 2009, the mark was 7.93. The barometer fluctuates according to the evaluations given by employees to their workplace.
Best ratings from employees went to jobs in the public service sector. Industrial workers graded their workplaces lowest.
According to the barometer, uncertainty continues to plague working life, although the situation has vastly improved since the year before. In a new twist, the uncertainty has also spread to the state sector.
For the first time, the barometer also evaluated the effect of salary agreements made straight between the employer and the employee as opposed to those conducted through collective labour agreements with the unions in a negotiating role.
It turned out that employees were on average more satisfied if they had negotiated the salary terms for themselves However, leaving salary negotiations up to the employees led to reduced openness at the workplace and an increased number of staff-management conflicts.
The barometer’s results are based on research conducted by Statistics Finland last autumn.
