Finnish workplaces should proceed with caution and patience when drafting plans for the post-Covid return to work, and make use of risk assessments, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has urged in a press release.
Not all employees will have received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine, the institute's Director-General Antti Koivula pointed out, and this must be taken into consideration when preparations are being made.
"In general, we encourage workplaces to take additional time when making their Covid-exit plans," Koivula said, adding that the institute encourages employers to take this time to agree the terms under which employees can return to work.
"Flexible work practices should be aligned at the workplace, team and individual levels," according to Sanna Kulmala, Program Director of the institute's TYÖ2030 (WORK2030) programme.
Finland's coronavirus situation is uncertain and is likely to remain so during the autumn, the institute added, especially if the Delta variant continues to spread.
Therefore, it is important that workplaces use all means of protection against the virus, such as the maintaining of safe distances and use of face masks.
Koivula added that telecommuting should continue to some extent, where possible, and suggested that employers engage in a constructive dialogue with employees on the subject of vaccinations and how working arrangements can be achieved.
"Sometimes an employer may have to consider, in the context of a risk assessment, whether a potentially unvaccinated worker who is at risk of becoming ill or infecting others extensively may be assigned to the job. However, these are also partly constitutional issues," Koivula said, referring to issues such as patient confidentiality.