sijaisen

Sijainen is a Finnish term referring to a person who temporarily occupies a position or performs duties on behalf of a permanent holder who is absent or when the post is temporarily vacant. The genitive form sijaisen is used in phrases such as sijaisen tehtävät (the substitute’s duties) or sijaisen tulo (the arrival of the substitute).

Sijaisuudet are common across many sectors, including workplaces, schools, healthcare, public administration, sports, and religious communities. A sijainen is typically appointed for a defined period, for example during illness, parental leave, or a vacancy waiting to be filled. The arrangement aims to ensure continuity of work and services while the regular holder cannot perform the duties.

Appointment and scope vary by context. In workplaces and public institutions, supervisors or human resources departments designate a sijainen and may provide a formal temporary contract or written notice. In schools, a sijainen opettaja (substitute teacher) fills teaching duties for a specific timeframe. In healthcare, a sijainen lääkäri or sijainen hoitaja covers clinical duties during absences. The authority and compensation for a sijainen depend on the terms of the appointment and applicable collective agreements or laws.

Differences from permanent staff are mainly related to tenure and sometimes remuneration or decision-making power. The concept also extends to other areas such as sports teams or orchestras, where a sijainen temporarily replaces a regular member.

See also: sijainen’s related forms in Finnish, such as sijaisuus (the state of being a substitute) and sija (a position or seat).