Workers blame upheaval for high sick leave in Pirkanmaa

Staff at Pirkanmaa’s wellbeing services county say repeated changes, heavy workloads and weak management are contributing to unusually high sickness absence, Yle reports. The county says it is looking for new ways to address the problem.

Employees took an average of 21 sick days each in 2025. The county estimates that total costs exceed 100 million euros a year. Keva, the public-sector pension insurer, puts the wage costs alone at more than 42 million euros for 2025. Its calculations show Pirkanmaa had the highest costs among university hospital wellbeing services counties from 2023 onwards.

Staff interviewed by Yle cited burnout, frequent reorganisations, cooperation negotiations, new work systems and high patient numbers. In psychiatry, nurse Juha Takala said referrals multiplied after services moved from Nokia’s Pitkäniemi area to Tampere, adding to the workload for nurses and doctors. Staff say patient numbers are too high, and some single rooms at the new T Hospital have been converted into double rooms.

Psychiatric wards in Sastamala were also moved to Tampere this autumn because of a shortage of doctors. The county is considering moving a general hospital psychiatry ward from T Hospital to the B building, which has indoor air problems. Staff say repeated moves and poor communication about changes have caused uncertainty. Psychiatry director Lumikukka Socada said changes in the field had been unusually extensive and acknowledged that workers were tired of the upheaval.

The county plans to increase training for supervisors and support from occupational health services. Keva’s cost calculations do not include expenses such as temporary replacements and other employer costs.