Why FinlandSanna Downing
Human Resources
Senior Specialist, Global Mobility
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
Finland is known for its innovative technology, balanced with pure nature. VTT is located in a unique concentration of high technology
and specialist organizations, in the Otaniemi area. The headquarters of several well known companies like Kone, Microsoft and Neste
Oil are situated in the nearby area.
Both the public and the private sector are committed to investing in R&D and Finland’s highly educated people have a positive can-do
attitude towards innovation.
In addition, social security in Finland is based on residence and so the benefits can be claimed by those who live in or relocate
permanently to Finland.
As part of our commitment to promote international exposure, for permanent new hires we provide a language training and also
relocation support in the form of a service which assists in finding accommodation and registering with the Finnish authorities to make
your arrival and stay in Finland easier.
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Best place for families Did you know that even the top ranked schools in Finland are free? Finland
has also held first place in OECD’s Programme for Student Assessment
(PISA) for several years, ranking Finland’s education system as one of the
world’s best.
Social security provides care and support for both families and children.
Benefits include:
• Child benefit starting 94,88EUR/month from the first child
• Paternity leave for a maximum of 54 days
• Maternity package or maternity grant
• Child welfare and maternity clinics are also available
Day care – children under school age are generally entitled to communal /
public day care in Finland (some restrictions apply)
Also public transport can be free in some cities for a parent travelling with a
child with a buggy
Do you know that
there is a law
which says that all
the apartment
buildings must
have an outside
play area for
children?
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Social security in Finland
Citizens outside EU/EEA or Switzerland
for those with a VTT contract of employment lasting at least 2 years or an open-ended
contract, you are eligible for Finnish social security benefits
for those employed by VTT between 4 months and 2 years,
you will have health insurance coverage from the Finnish
social security institution KELA
Citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland
Eligible for social security coverage from KELA
Please see KELA website for further information: www.kela.fi
Families
Sickness
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Healthcare
Finland has an excellent health care system which is funded mainly by taxes. Finland has a
highly decentralized 3-level publicly funded system of health care (Kela) and alongside
these, a much smaller private health care system. In addition to other healthcare services,
VTT provides occupational healthcare services for the employee at Terveystalo.
Municipal healthcare: when visiting a clinic or hospital, patients need to pay access charges
of around 15–30€ per visit, depending on the municipality. There is also a maximum
amount of payment defined, after which certain visits are free. For example in Oulu (2015),
the cap is 679€.
Giving birth in Finland is only possible at our excellent public hospitals.
This ensures quality care for all the people in Finland.
Insurances – unlike the American system in Finland one can rely on public health care
even though the trend seems to be now to take some healthcare and accident
insurances. Insurance amounts for child insurances can be as low as 400€/year.
When using private healthcare, there is a discount provided by Kela, which is
applied to certain charges such as doctor’s fees. For example a visit to the doctor
for a child could cost as little as 78€ after Kela discount.
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Taxation
Countries with high levels of social security usually have high levels of taxation as well;
Finland is no exception although the individual is able to make some deductions including
commuting costs which are over the set limit.
Contrary to many other countries in Finland one can file their own tax return electronically and
asses one’s taxes based on personal situation with an online tax calculator.
The tax office has information in English on their website and their staff is able to assist
customers in English as well
Some useful links to Finnish taxation:
Online tax calculator
Tax card online
Tax Guide, Individuals 2017
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A society that runs well makes everyday living easier
Finland has a good public transport network and the cost of transport is low.
For example an Espoo ticket (valid for travel within Espoo, the city in which
the suburb of Otaniemi is located, which is where VTT Headquarters is) costs
54,70€ / month. The public transport network is one of the reasons Finland
has the cleanest air.
Many international airlines use Helsinki as their transport hub between East
and West.
Finland is also an extremely safe place and Finnish children are used to be
quite independent from an early age. Finland is one of the rare places where
mobile phone and wallets might still be returned to their owner – and
sometimes by taxi. According to a Readers Digest’s test, 11 out of 12 wallets
left in public places as a test were returned.
This, and our high level of education, is probably why there is an extensive
startup culture: Aalto University in the capital area has a very active
entrepreneurial society (AaltoES), there is a regular startup incubation
program called StartUpSauna and an annual event called Slush which
attracts a global audience.
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Land of a Thousand Lakes
Finland is known for its lake and nature. We have a system
called everyman’s rights (jokamiehenoikeus), which allows
everyone to walk freely anywhere to enjoy the Finnish nature
both in winter and in summer.
With our extensive network of bicycle lanes, you can enjoy
cycling or other sports on wheels like roller blading easily to
get easily to the many lakes, parks and golf courses – you can
even play golf past midnight in the summer!
The playgrounds are free and available for anyone
Oittaa Angry Birds Playground
Leppävaara Angry Bird Playground
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2 400 employees… do you have what it takes to be
the next new employee?
Working in a globally networked top-level research organization
opens up a fascinating spectrum of career opportunities for professionals
with various backgrounds.
Only at VTT :
You can challenge yourself in developing future technologies
You have the opportunity to manage international research projects with
a focus on scientific breakthroughs
You can work closely together with customers
VTT offers you the possibility to develop your competences and build
your career path in countless ways.
Welcome to a workpalce where you can learn something new every day!
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Great development opportunities
Challenging assignments
International projects
Internal and external training opportunities
Expat opportunities
Supported self motivated learning
Research leave for doctorate theses
Salary
Monthly base pay
Variable reward elements including:
Recognition Reward
Doctorate Thesis Reward
IPR and Innovation reward
What we offer
Benefits
Longer vacations compared to the private
sector
Flexible working hours
Phone benefit
Occupational health care
Sports and leisure activities
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www.vttresearch.com
#VTTpeople, @VTTFinland
Thank you!