määräaikaisissa

Määräaikaisissa is the inessive plural form of the Finnish adjective määräaikainen, meaning fixed-term or temporary. It describes something that lasts for a defined period or is established under a fixed-term arrangement. The term is commonly used in discussions of employment, contracts, and arrangements to distinguish temporary from open-ended ones.

Grammatically, määräaikaisissa is the form used when referring to multiple items in the inessive case. It often appears together with a plural noun in the same case, for example in phrases like määräaikaisissa työsuhteissa, meaning “in fixed-term employment relationships.” The form reflects both the temporary nature of the arrangement and the grammatical case of the modified noun.

Typical contexts where määräaikaisissa appears include employment contracts, internships, seasonal work, and substitutes for absent staff. In everyday and formal language, the term helps specify that the involved positions, tasks, or agreements are not permanent and have a defined end date or scope. It is commonly contrasted with other Finnish terms such as toistaiseksi voimassa oleva työsuhde (open-ended employment contract) to indicate whether a position is temporary or permanent.

Legal and policy considerations surrounding määräaikaisissa arrangements vary by jurisdiction. In many systems, fixed-term contracts are permitted for legitimate reasons, such as project work, seasonal demand, or temporary replacements, but may be subject to limits or conditions to prevent abuse and to determine when a position should become permanent. Related terminology includes määräaikainen (singular), määräaikaiset (nominative plural), and open-ended contract terms.

See also: määräaikainen, työsuhde, toistaiseksi voimassa oleva työsuhde.