vuorottelulla

Vuorottelulla is a Finnish term describing a work arrangement based on rotation, substitution, or job sharing. In this setup, tasks or shifts are distributed among several employees who take turns performing a role for defined periods. The concept is used to increase workforce flexibility, support work–life balance, and facilitate temporary absences due to illness, care duties, study, or other reasons, without permanently removing a position from the organization.

Implementations of vuorottelu can vary. It may involve two or more workers sharing a single full‑time position, alternating on a weekly or monthly basis, or a temporary substitution where one employee covers the duties of another for a set period. The arrangement is typically regulated by collective agreements or individual contracts and requires mutual consent between the employer and the employees involved.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from vuoro, meaning rotation or turn, and the suffix -lla, indicating the manner or means. In Finnish labor policy and discourse, vuorottelu is closely linked to broader devices such as leave arrangements and flexible staffing, and it is one of several tools to adapt to demographic and organizational changes. As a concept, it emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, and continuity of work while providing alternatives to permanent restructuring.