Päätoimen

Päätoimen is a Finnish term describing a person's primary occupation or main duty, typically on a full-time basis. The word is formed from pää- meaning 'main' and toimi meaning 'duty' or 'function'. In usage, päätoimen denotes the activity that constitutes someone's primary source of work or income, as opposed to secondary or incidental activities.

The term appears in employment, education and social security contexts. It is used to describe a full-time position or role, for example in phrases such as 'päätoimen opettaja' or 'päätoimen työntekijä', and in expressions like 'päätoimen tehtävä' (the main duty). It is commonly contrasted with osa-aikainen (part-time) or sivutoiminen (side business).

In law and HR documentation, whether an activity is classified as päätoimen can influence contractual status, access to certain benefits, and workload expectations. The exact interpretation can vary by sector and collective agreements, so the term is usually defined in context rather than as an independent legal category.

Origin and usage notes: The term reflects the distinction between primary, full-time work and secondary activities, reinforcing practical boundaries around time allocation and income sources in Finnish work life.