Family-Friendly Workplaces

Creating family-friendly workplaces has become an increasingly important value in the Finnish working life – both in terms of employee well-being and the attractiveness of organizations. A family-friendly workplace does not just mean flexible working hours or remote work opportunities, but a comprehensive work community culture in which employees’ different life situations are taken into account in everyday life, management and attitudes. In Kainuu, we believe that this is also important for building a vibrant and appealing region. As working life in Kainuu is flexible and allows balance with personal life, more and more people can imagine staying in the region or moving there.

Family-Friendly Workplace Award

To develop a family-friendly working life in Kainuu, a project called ”Työn ja perheen Kainuu” (Work and Families in Kainuu) has been implemented. The project aims to support Kainuu organisations to profile themselves as family-friendly workplaces where combining work and family life is fluent. More than 20 employers in Kainuu have already committed to reviewing and developing their family-friendly practices with the support of the project.

In 2025, family-friendliness will be celebrated in a special way. On Sunday, August 10, at the annual regional gala of Kainuu in Sotkamo, the Family-Friendly Workplace Award will be granted for the first time. The award is given to a Kainuu workplace that has shown a special commitment to developing and promoting family-friendliness. The aim of the recognition is to increase awareness of the importance of family-friendliness and encourage Kainuu workplaces to further develop their practices. At the same time, we highlight companies and organizations in the region that set an example for all of Finland.