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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/one-in-four-finns-at-risk-of-burnout/

Finland

One in four Finns at risk of burnout

Updated October 6, 2024, Published October 6, 2024 – By Editorial staff

Photo: Vasilis Caravitis/Unsplash

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

About one in four workers in Finland is at high risk of burnout, according to a study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. At the same time, one in ten Finns is classified as likely to experience burnout.

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health's "How is Finland?" () research project examined changes in the occupational wellbeing of Finns at the end of 2019, in the summer of 2023, at the end of 2023 and in the summer of 2024, and found that the country's occupational wellbeing has deteriorated in recent years, especially during the coronavirus crisis.

– Although there is a lot of good in Finnish work life, there has been an overall trend of declining well-being at work. This is reflected in both the willingness and ability to work, says research professor Jari Hakanen from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in a press release.

In 2019, six per cent of respondents were likely to be burnt out, a figure that increased to ten per cent in the summer of 2024. Among people under 36, the likelihood of burnout has doubled, while among managers it has tripled since 2019.

According to the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, being classified as likely to be burnt out means experiencing symptoms of burnout but still being able to work. However, the increase is described as ‘worrying’ as this group is most at risk of long-term sick leave.

– A person who has severe burnout may still be at work, but they constantly experience symptoms of burnout. They have to make even more effort in order to cope with work and the quality of the rest of their life suffers, says Janne Kaltiainen, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Cognitive disorders and cynicism at work have also increased, especially among those who work remotely. 34% of those who work remotely more than 75% of the time also experience loneliness. When the same figure was applied to all respondents, the figure was 28%.

– There was an increase in experiences of loneliness compared to last year. Fortunately, this is something that can also be prevented at the workplace; for example by enabling encounters that make people feel seen and appreciated, says Kaltiainen.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/finlands-border-fence-with-russia-nearing-completion/

Finland

Finland’s border fence with Russia nearing completion

The new cold war

Published today 12:34 pm – By Editorial staff

Photo credit: SVT

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

After nearly three years of construction, Finland's border fence with Russia is almost complete. The 200-kilometer barrier has been erected at strategically important locations to prevent hybrid warfare in the form of so-called instrumentalized migration.

Finland has chosen to expand its border security at locations where the risk is assessed to be greatest, despite the border with Russia stretching over 1,300 kilometers. The new fence covers only 200 kilometers of the total border length.

The 3.5-meter-high structure is designed to be impossible to climb and is equipped with barbed wire at the top. The area is also fitted with surveillance cameras and lighting, according to Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

The purpose is to stop what is called instrumentalized migration, where Russia sends asylum seekers to Finland as part of alleged "hybrid warfare".

The prioritization of where to build the fence has been based on where infrastructure and roads exist on both sides of the border. The old border crossings in Finnish Lapland have also been equipped with fencing as they constitute natural entry routes.

Mikko Kauppila, commander at the Lapland Border Guard, notes that the local population is supportive.

— It's patriotism, he says.

However, he worries that people are leaving villages in the area, which means fewer eyes to notice irregularities. The risk that someone could get around the fence has also sparked discussions about extension, but financing is uncertain.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/finland-probes-anonymizing-social-insurance-rulings-after-staff-threats/

Finland

Finland probes anonymizing social insurance rulings after staff threats

Published November 26, 2025 – By Editorial staff

Photo: iStock/kieferpix

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Finland's Social Insurance Institution is demanding that case handlers' names be allowed to be omitted from decisions. The background is serious threats against employees – including bomb threats and threats against their families.

The Social Insurance Institution (Kela) has approached the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health with a request for changed rules. The authority wants it to become possible to make decisions without the case handler's name appearing, something that is currently not permitted.

Security Director Sami Niinikorpi describes an alarming situation where employees are subjected to the worst imaginable threats.

— This is about the most serious possible threat that one person can make to another, he tells Finnish national broadcaster Yle.

The problems have grown since Kela was given responsibility for decisions on basic social security in 2017. The authority sent out approximately 14 million decisions and letters during 2024, of which 1.6 million concerned basic security. Each year, around 200 reports of threats and harassment from staff are received.

Jussi Syrjänen, special expert at the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, confirms that the ministry is now investigating two possible solutions: either names are removed entirely from decisions, or a system with identification numbers similar to that used by police is introduced.

He believes the case involves balancing two fundamental principles: transparency in government administration and employees' right to personal safety.

— Places where employees experience threats and dangerous situations may very well also have an interest in similar measures to those Kela is now seeking, says Syrjänen.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/today-utsjoki-sees-the-sun-for-the-last-time-in-two-months/

Finland

Today Utsjoki sees the sun for the last time in two months

Published November 25, 2025 – By Editorial staff

Photo: iStock/Pez Photography

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Today the sun rises for the last time in a while in Finland's northernmost municipality. After that, a polar night awaits that stretches until mid-January.

At 11:35 AM on Tuesday, the sun rises above the horizon in Utsjoki for the last time this year. Just 46 minutes later, at 12:21 PM, it sets again – and stays away for 52 days.

Then begins the polar night, the period when the Earth's tilt means the sun does not rise above the horizon. The phenomenon occurs in the northernmost parts of the world and lasts for varying lengths depending on how close to the North Pole one is located.

In Utsjoki, which lies in the far north of Finland near the Norwegian border, it will be completely dark until January 16. Only then will the sun rise above the horizon again, reports Finnish national broadcaster Yle.

Shorter polar night further south

Further south in Lapland, closer to the Arctic Circle, the polar night is considerably shorter. In Sodankylä, a town in Finnish Lapland, it begins a couple of days before Christmas and lasts only four days.

South of Lapland, no polar night occurs at all, but even there the Earth's tilt is clearly noticeable. Daylight continues to decrease until December 21, when the winter darkness is at its deepest. After that, the days slowly begin to grow longer again.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/finland-to-allow-wolf-hunting-next-year/

Finland

Finland to allow wolf hunting next year

Published November 22, 2025 – By Editorial staff

Photo: iStock/CreativeNature_nl

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Finnish government presented new legislation on Thursday that will allow population management wolf hunting next year. 65 wolves are to be shot next year.

The Natural Resources Institute Finland estimated earlier this fall that there are approximately 430 wolves in Finland and that the population has increased by 46 percent in the past year. The sharp increase has prompted the government to allow hunting to reduce problems.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah justifies the decision by noting that wolves are moving increasingly closer to populated areas.

— The goal is legislation that can sustainably and long-term reduce the problems caused by wolves, she tells Finnish national broadcaster Yle.

Martin Hägglund, chairman of the game council in Southwest Finland, welcomes the proposal.

— There are too many wolves in certain parts of Finland. Therefore, we have problems that we must address, he says.

But environmental organization Nature & Environment is critical. According to executive director Jonas Heikkilä, the wolf population is not sufficiently viable for hunting. He believes the wolf population should be around 500 individuals to be classified as viable.

— Now it just feels like the government is pushing through regional politics, he says.

The legislative changes are made possible by the EU Council of Ministers' decision this summer to downgrade the wolf's protection status from strictly protected to protected. The changes are set to take effect in January 2026 after being processed by the Finnish Parliament.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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