Conductors lead sick leave rankings in Finland according to recent data

Recent data from Yle’s Sick Leave Tool has revealed a surprising trend among conductors, who rank at the top for sick leave days in Finland. Juha-Pekka Raappana, the chief union representative for transport workers, noted that while there has been discussion among colleagues about increasing sick leave in recent months, he was still taken aback by their position in the Statistics Finland report.

In 2023, workers in travel service roles, including conductors and tour guides, were absent from work for an average of 25 days annually, while the overall average across professions stood at 11 days. VR’s long-distance traffic director, Piia Tyynilä, confirmed that their internal data aligns with the Sick Leave Tool’s results, indicating conductors and ticketing staff typically take around 20 sick days per year. This reflects a trend of slightly lower sick leave than reported.

The high number of absences is attributed to the nature of the job, which involves over a million customer interactions monthly, exposing staff to various illnesses. Tyynilä pointed out that most sick leaves last between one and three days and are often due to respiratory infections. Raappana emphasized that increased absences put pressure on remaining staff.

Both VR management and workers are currently exploring strategies to reduce sick leaves. Potential measures include offering employees more influence over their work schedules to boost job satisfaction and potentially minimize absences. Additionally, VR supports employee well-being through initiatives focused on rest, nutrition, sleep, and exercise. In cases of sudden illness, VR aims to assist with return-to-work options, including the possibility of alternative tasks.