Merja Hermonen finds fulfillment as garden assistant at Brinkhall Manor in southwestern Finland

At 61 years old, Merja Hermonen, who is on disability pension, manages the overgrown branches of a maple tree in the garden of Brinkhall Manor. Despite the low pay for a garden assistant, she enjoys working outdoors without the stress that characterized her previous job as the parish vicar in Piikkiö, southwestern Finland.

Hermonen faced significant challenges in her final working year, including a sudden shift to online operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by indoor air quality issues in the church premises. An inherently absent-minded person, her ongoing stress caused her to forget important tasks, making her realize she could not meet the demands of her role. After two years, she transitioned from her vicar position to disability retirement due to burnout and memory issues.

Currently, Hermonen is studying to become a museum gardener while working one day a week at the manor’s gardens. This return to education and work is uncommon for those on disability pensions, as many people hold the misconception that retirement from work is permanent. However, under Finnish law, individuals on disability can try working again for two years without forfeiting their pension.

As she continues her studies, Hermonen finds that the absence of job stress has improved her memory. She is determined not to place expectations on herself, valuing each successful exam as a significant achievement.

Experts note that today’s cognitively demanding work environment contributes to an increase in memory-related issues. Despite these challenges, Hermonen does not desire to return to her former vicar role, finding fulfillment in her new path of studying gardening.