Santa Claus is especially busy during winter, but Santa, his elves and the rest of SantaPark’s energetic staff need occupational healthcare services throughout the year. SantaPark Oy ― a company located in Rovaniemi, offering hotel, restaurant and programme services ― trusts Pihlajalinna for various reasons such as multilingual and flexible service.
SantaPark Oy employs a staff of around 80 employees all year round. However, the number of staff almost quadruples during the Christmas season when seasonal workers arrive at the tourist centre from all around the world.
– Last year, we had people from 39 different nationalities working here in SantaPark, and around 70% of the employees came from abroad. Our primary working language is English, so it is important that the occupational healthcare services are also available in English, says Arja Hemmi, the Head of Human Resources and Chief Financial Officer at SantaPark.
SantaPark and Pihlajalinna’s occupational healthcare cooperation started in summer 2023. At the beginning of the cooperation, not only was attention paid to the language, but also the wide range of online service opportunities and the availability of occupational healthcare.
– The agreement contains a wider range of services than the statutory agreement on occupational healthcare, and it includes, for example, national care need assessment and low threshold services that support mental wellbeing, adds Eveliina Hasari, Service Manager of the Lapland region at Pihlajalinna.
Shared values drive occupational healthcare cooperation
SantaPark employs staff responsible for restaurant, hotel, store and experience services, as well as other services. The work is active and performed both inside and outside throughout the year in variable shifts, so taking care of occupational health requires a wide range of expertise.
– The peak season coincides with the flu season, so easy access to flu vaccines is very important to us when choosing our occupational health partner. Accidents happen at work occasionally, and they should receive help fast. We have especially wanted to prioritise mental health services that support work ability, and services such as early support model, brief therapy and Worry in Mind line have matched this perfectly, lists Hemmi.
When selecting a collaborative partner, the SantaPark staff paid attention to Pihlajalinna’s values: ethics, enthusiasm and open-mindedness. Pihlajalinna’s great reputation in Rovaniemi was also convincing.
– Our values include sharing and caring, as well as active communication. Pihlajalinna’s caring and preventive style aligns well with these values. The communication has been great throughout the cooperation, and we have always managed to resolve issues smoothly, adds Kenneth Tuomi, Executive Director and Operations Coordinator at SantaPark Oy.
Occupational healthcare helps untie bureaucratic knots
SantaPark conducted a work satisfaction survey for its employees in summer 2024, which gave Pihlajalinna’s services outstanding feedback.
– Especially the speed, professionalism and high-quality of services received praise. The primary critique was mostly related to some issues at the start of the cooperation when Pihlajalinna’s application did not work in all foreign telephone connections. However, this issue was resolved rather quickly, tells Hemmi.
The staff manager also praises how smoothly the cooperation has been going with the managers.
– When dealing with unexpected or complicated cases related to occupational health, it is easy to run up against constraints in the jungle of bureaucracy. Pihlajalinna has provided a brilliant information package to resolve any issues, and our contact person is always ready to help. Proactivity greatly helps me with my work and takes a load off my mind, when I can trust that everything will be done as we have agreed.
Occupational health reports support the development of corporate responsibility
As Pihlajalinna and SantaPark’s cooperation is still in its early stages, the impact of the occupational healthcare services on sick leaves and other aspects is only starting to take shape. However, the general impression is that occupational healthcare works well and its related services have improved the staff’s wellbeing.
– The reports drive our operations and decision-making, so it is great that occupational health checks are recorded according to the agreed framework and professional ethics. When we can identify the risks at work better, we have the opportunity to prevent them, influence our operations and improve our corporate responsibility, says Kenneth Tuomi.
In the future, there is a desire to strengthen the cooperation further through various projects, for example. SantaPark’s staff has already received work ergonomics guidance from Pihlajalinna, among other services. The next area of interest could be services related to work ability management.
– We have an application for work ability management, which makes maintaining employee data and absences a lot easier. We are naturally also happy to provide a variety of trainings that support wellbeing at work, either online or in-person, concludes Hasari.
Request an offer for occupational health services
Pihlajalinna’s customer-oriented and needs-based operations model is a cost-effective way to promote health and the capacity to work. High-quality, preventive occupational health care services are based on knowing the workplace. Contact us for a quote tailored to your needs.