Työaikojen

Työaikojen is the genitive form of työaika, meaning the working hours connected to a person or job. In Finnish labor practice, the term refers to the total time an employee is expected to be at work and how that time is distributed across days, weeks, and shifts. It is used in contracts, workplace policies, and legal discussions, in phrases such as työtäikojen järjestäminen (organizing working hours) and työaikojen muuttaminen (changing working hours).

In Finland, the core rules governing working hours are found in the Working Time Act (Työaikalaki) and in sector-specific collective agreements. The act regulates the length of ordinary working time, required rest periods and breaks, and conditions for night work and overtime. It also provides mechanisms for averaging working time over a reference period, allowing schedules to vary while remaining compliant. Collective agreements can define more specific limits or arrangements for particular industries or employers.

Practical implications include the organization of flexible arrangements, such as flextime, compressed work weeks, or shift-based schedules, within the framework of the law and agreements. Employees may request changes to their working hours for personal or family reasons, and employers must evaluate these requests in light of operational needs. Employers are typically responsible for recording actual working time and ensuring appropriate rest periods and compensation for overtime, where applicable. Compliance supports health, safety, and fair treatment in the management of Työaikojen.