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Greener on the other side of the fence?
Nowadays, travelling around the world after work is easier than ever. In order for the work in another country to go well from the viewpoint of the employee as well as the whole family, things have to be in order already before leaving.
A work assignment abroad is an enriching and motivating learning experience. The homeland of an increasing number of people changes permanently, and then the whole family goes along too. It can also be very stressing if things are not handled in the right way, reminds Telma in its latest issue.
Mihály Börzsei came to Finland from Hungary over ten years ago. He gives important advice to people who move to another country.
– You must be willing to make compromises. You also have to be prepared to encounter difficulties in the beginning. And the handling of daily routines takes a lot of time and effort.
One of the most common reasons for aborting a work assignment is that the spouse is not comfortable. If the person on the assignment has to travel much because of the work, the family may have to spend a lot of time alone. It is a problem if the spouse doesn’t have a social support network.
Regular work trips are also a part of some jobs, and can be quite challenging. That is why at Nokia where the employees travel much, attention is paid to the loading of the trip already when the trips are planned. Nokia approves the airline companies and hotels, and when the trip is reserved, the employee gets information by e-mail about the country’s safety and health risks.
Regardless of whether a person works abroad permanently or goes on work trips, the employees have to adapt to a different work culture. Many years ago, Sari Turunen moved to Germany to work, and encountered cultural differences right away.
– Being on a first name basis with workmates is a minor thing for Finns, but according to the traditions in Bayer, at the table sit doctor Weber and doctor Rüdiger, not Hans and Franz.
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In line with its international theme, Telma 1/2012 travels around the world: in Norway, Portugal, Germany, and here and there in Finland. In Vantaa we get to see how immigrants adjust to work life. In Finland we visit the Police for Foreigners, we listen to the hullabaloo of a young people’s club house, and observe the calmness of a graveyard. In his column, Jan Erola describes tight measures how to deal with workplace bullies. In her column, Sirkka Heinonen tells how creative work spaces inspire her.
For more information contact:
The Finnish Work Environment Fund: communication manager Marja-Leena Jylhä, 040 548 8852
The Centre for Occupational Safety: communication specialist Eija Åback, 040 537 1822
