Would you invite a work coach to an occupational health negotiation?

The work coach encourages and gives tips on different options

When continuing in one’s own work is not going to plan, the situation would put strain on anyone. It may seem like you have reached a dead end, you feel like your own abilities are not enough in the change and you don’t know where to go next. It’s clear that each of us has accumulated a wealth of know-how in working life and in life in general. The task of a work coach is to help identify one’s own strengths and professional interests. Seeking a new direction may require increasing one’s knowledge and skills. Our education system has changed, and a work coach will tell you about opportunities for increasing your competence in a practical way. Could an electrician become an offer calculation specialist if they are good with numbers and have great interpersonal skills, and they have also acted as the treasurer of a sports club in their free time? Of course they could. Does your own employer offer such opportunities? And how would you express your wishes to your employer?

Occupational health negotiations play a key role

When we challenge an employee to think about their own professional interests, we are often asked if we could call HR on the employee’s behalf, because the employee is nervous about proposing a completely new alternative. Our answer is that we won’t make the call, but we will support the employee in proposing alternatives at an occupational health negotiation. Occupational health matters that are important to the employee are discussed during the occupational health negotiation, and the employee may be too nervous to remember everything they meant to say – this is where the work coach can support the employee.

If a position such as the aforementioned offer calculation job can be found for the employee in the organisation, the practical path to the job will be considered. The work coach knows what kinds of studies support the transition to the position and how they could be pursued, what kinds of time and financial resources are needed and what this would require from the employer. The work coach will think of an appropriate option together with the rest of the multidisciplinary occupational health team and the employer. When making a decision, the work coach ensures that the plan remains within the framework set by the support provider in situations such as where the support is received from the pension insurance company.

If the employer finds that there is no suitable work to be offered to the employee now or in the near future, the employee will be more prepared to seek another solution. A change of job or occupation often requires mental adjustment and time. Moving away from things that are familiar, safe and pleasant often feels like a giant leap. Carefully determining the facts makes change and decision-making easier. Even tentative discussions about career plans and different options help make it easier to accept the situation and to look ahead.

The role and competence of the work coach in occupational health negotiations

• supports decision-making on further plans within the employee’s occupation

• provides information on opportunities and alternatives for advancement with the same content for all, while respecting confidentiality

• makes it possible to make statements from the perspective of the employee, the employer and health requirements in one sitting

• at best, speed up the employee’s return to and continuation of work; things get more complicated when the situation is prolonged

• if the necessary information is available during the negotiation, this will also have an impact on the number of negotiations to be carried out

• humane approach

• a caring employer provides the employee with the necessary support

The role of a work coach, a social services specialist, as part of occupational health care has become more important in the past few years. Employers also know to ask for the guidance and counselling of a work coach at an early stage. In occupational health negotiations, the knowledge and know-how provided by these professionals could be utilised on a larger scale than before. Finding a solution is not always possible, but would it be a good idea to use the opportunity?

Written by Riitta Erämaa, Work Coach, Social Services Specialist and Head of the Work Coaching Services Unit.

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