Access &: Happiness at work, the power of trust and the Finnish philosophy of sisu (9th September 2024)
Your fortnightly newsletter bringing you the why and how of accessibility in business.
Access & is your why- Focusing on accessibility and a trending topic/interesting industry/timely conversation.
It’s great to have a conversation, but I know you’re looking for something more…
Access & Actions is your how- Tasks, activities, conversation starters, stats to take to leadership and things you can implement the very same day.
The Untapped Advantage
Standing out…
An extensive study by Oxford University's Saïd Business School found that workers are 13% more productive when happy. Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace report reveals that happier employees are up to 17% more productive!
So it’s not just a fuzzy, feel-good concept to aim for a happier workplace environment.
Happier employees + increased productivity = better profits.
As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, many people find themselves with worsening mental health conditions or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), not to mention, stress in the workplace, an epidemic all year round.
Disabled people report lower levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and perceived worth of their lives compared to non-disabled people (The Office for National Statistics). Additionally, they often experience higher levels of anxiety.
Access is an essential part of the equation to happiness at work, benefiting everyone, disabled and non-disabled colleagues alike. And vice versa; prioritising employee happiness will lead to a more accessible, welcoming environment.
Simply put, both should be a priority.
The Heart Of It
Getting to the point…
"Finnish society is permeated by a sense of trust, freedom and high level of autonomy. Finns' strong welfare society, trust in state authorities, low levels of corruption and free healthcare and education were also key."
Jennifer De Paola, Happiness Researcher, the University of Helsinki
Ahead of International Week of Happiness at Work (September 23-27, 2024), what can we learn from the country that has held the top spot of happiest country in the world for seven years (World Happiness Report)?
Finland experiences some of the longest periods of darkness in winter. This paradox highlights the importance of factors beyond sunlight in determining happiness and wellbeing.
Here are 3 key takeaways from the happiest nation in the world.
1. Work-Life Balance.
Back in 1996, Finland passed the Working Hours Act, giving employees a golden ticket to adjust their work hours by up to three hours on a work day. By 2011, 92% of Finnish companies offered flexible working schedules, according to a study for global accounting firm, Grant Thornton.
Meanwhile, countries like the UK and the US were playing catch-up, with only 76% of companies offering similar flexible policies. In Russia, it was only 50% and just 18% in Japan.
Finland’s deep-rooted belief in the power of a balanced life is reflected in generous parental leave. Since 2022, both parents receive an individual entitlement of 160 weekdays of parental leave, with the option to transfer up to 63 days to the other parent.
2. Trust and Autonomy.
A natural fear of inadequacy (due to high standards in Finnish culture) was holding many people back from founding businesses or pursuing jobs. National Day of Failure (13 October) was created in 2010 by Finnish university students to celebrate those failures that shape a person’s journey and help them grow, reminding people there’s room for mistakes.
As the Finnish saying goes, work teaches the worker (työ tekijäänsä neuvoo).
3. Sisu, Nature and Wellbeing
Sisu is a philosophy and mindset embedded in Finnish culture. It means extraordinary determination, inner strength, grit, courage and resilience through challenges and adversity (something disabled people tend to have buckets of, because they have had no other choice in an ableist world, but true sisu in the workplace can only be built if employees are fully supported).
Finns add sisu to their everyday lives by focusing on wellbeing and stress relief, such as relaxing in the traditional Finnish sauna, often enjoyed after work, swimming in icy waters, walking in forests, biking to work and living in harmony with seasons. How can you encourage your employees to nourish their wellbeing?
Up To Date?
This month’s top need-to-know news.
You can now book in-person and online tickets for AbilityNet TechShare Pro, at HSBC in Canary Wharf London. Don’t miss the Disability and Inclusive Advertising Summit (Weds 13 November) and the Accessibility Leadership Day (Thurs 14 November).
This ableist advert was broadcast, perpetuating the tired, false and harmful narrative that disabled people are a burden. Sometimes it’s good to highlight who is getting it wrong so lessons can be learned.
The Paralympics kicked off on 28 August with a dazzling opening ceremony. A team of 215 athletes are representing Team ParalympicsGB, 46% of which are female, the highest proportion of female athletes ever.
See you soon for Access & Actions!
Rachael x