Metsä Group’s mills run day and night, and our professionals operating the mills work around the clock. Shift work is the most taxing form of work. In response to this, Metsä Group has sought new ways to support longer careers and promote the wellbeing of our employees throughout their careers. Therefore, the company decided to give shift workers greater influence over their working hours.
The individual working time model has been trialled at Finnish mills since the beginning of 2024. Individual working time solutions can take various forms, such as shifts of different lengths, shorter weekly working hours, an emphasis on morning or evening shifts, or individualised free periods, for example.
The renewal was naturally preceded by careful planning. The model was prepared jointly with personnel representatives. In autumn 2023, we conducted a survey among shift workers at Finnish production units to map their working time wishes for the following year. Based on this, we drew up mill-specific shift plans, aiming to account for individual working time wishes and ensure shift resourcing, the necessary skills, and the equal treatment of employees.
We have had good experiences with the working time model and will continue to further develop it. Experimenting with different working time solutions and collecting feedback helps us determine what works well and what best supports our employees’ ability to cope at shift work. Now, in late autumn 2024, we are again planning for the coming year based on a new survey carried out earlier this autumn.
Our employees have been very positive about the working time model and have appreciated the opportunity to influence their own working hours. The model’s impact on safety, efficiency and wellbeing at work has been monitored in the units. Based on the feedback received, the model’s introduction has not decreased safety or efficiency. Indeed, it has been found to improve employees’ wellbeing at work and job satisfaction.
Business- and people-orientation support each other
I work as HR Manager at Metsä Wood’s Lohja mill and as supervisor of the HR specialist team. As part of my work, I also participate in various development projects, which currently involve promoting the individual working time model across Metsä Group.
For me, close cooperation with representatives of Metsä Group’s various businesses has been particularly interesting during the development work. I have been able to expand my network of HR professionals in-house and have had the opportunity to develop operations with others.
Over the course of our lives, many of us deal with situations in which individual work arrangements can help us cope at work. Challenges with work ability, and small children or other loved ones who we must care for while also working, are just a few examples. It has been very rewarding to receive positive feedback from the personnel. Seeing that someone is genuinely happy and satisfied with a solution that we have found together and that supports their coping makes my work feel really meaningful.
I believe that healthy and thriving employees work productively and make us a more attractive employer. Business- and people-orientation are not mutually exclusive, but mutually supportive. Yes, we have machines and equipment, but a healthy and thriving personnel is of key importance to business.