Sijaisia

Sijaisia is the plural partitive form of the Finnish noun sijainen, meaning a person who temporarily takes the place of another in a job, role, or responsibility. The term is commonly used to describe substitutes in workplaces, schools, and public services, especially when the regular person is absent due to illness, vacation, or other duties. Sijaiset may be employed directly as temporary staff or contracted through staffing agencies to cover a defined period, shift, or assignment.

Origin and nuance: The word derives from sija meaning place, and it conveys the idea of occupying another person’s place. In addition to employment, sijainen can refer to a stand-in in various contexts, such as a temporary chair holder at meetings or an acting official.

Usage notes: In Finnish, sijainen is gender-neutral. The form sijaisia is used in contexts referring to multiple substitutes in the partitive or plural sense, for example: “Tarvitaan sijaisia opettajien lomien ajaksi” or “Koulussa on tänään sijainen.” In everyday language, sijaisia often implies a temporary, provisional arrangement rather than a long-term vacancy.

Related terms include sijainen (stand-in) and sijaisuus (substitution or temporary tenure).