Good supervisory work

The supervisor has a great responsibility for the work ability and well-being of the work community as well as employees. Supporting work ability is not a complicated task; instead, good everyday supervisory work goes a long way.

For example, supervisors:

• are responsible for ensuring that workspaces and tools work and have good ergonomics
• recognise the risks associated with the work and are responsible for the employees’ occupational safety
• listen to and involve employees in matters related to work and working conditions
• ensure that employees are able to develop their competence
• react if they notice changes in employees’ work ability
• support the employee’s return to work after a long absence
• make sure that everyone will have a chance to say what they are thinking.

Work ability should be promoted systematically and according to ground rules that are the same for everyone. In practice, this means that you need to find out what different practices already exist in the workplace. In addition, you can create specific ground rules for the work community that complement the joint practices. 

Examples of the ground rules determined for a work community:

• regular joint discussion sessions
• all employees may enter peaceful working hours in their calendars and no one may disturb them during this time
• if an employee is concerned about a colleague’s coping, they will address the issue with a colleague and, if necessary, also with the supervisor
• organising meetings at times that allow as many people as possible to participate 
• discussing occupational safety and health and well-being at work matters regularly in meetings
• agreeing on the rules of good behaviour at work together 

See the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health’s Hyvä työkäyttäytyminen (Good Behaviour at Work) board (in Finnish). Opens in a new window.

Supervisors will not be able to perform their important task if they are tired and exhausted. Various tools help you take care of your personal coping.

Here you can find tools that can be used to improve your work ability and well-being at work. Employees can also utilise some of the tools.

The guide also contains plenty of tools that you can use to improve the well-being of the entire work community.

Ideas for taking care of one's own work ability: Workbook for hybrid entrepreneurs (pdf) - julkari.fi (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.