Staff benefits

The well-being of our staff is important to us. This is why we offer our staff a comprehensive selection of benefits. Here you will find the key benefits to which you are entitled as a university employee.

We value your work-life balance and flexibility

We have a work culture that enables a good balance between professional and personal life. You can work remotely and enjoy freedom with flexible working hours to have more control over how you manage your work time. Teaching and research staff follow a total working time system, where the work plan is agreed upon with the supervisor individually. Support staff are following the regular working hours with flexibility.

At the University of Oulu, you get to enjoy long annual holidays. Teaching and research staff plan their work and holidays based on the total working hours. Regular salary is paid 12 months per year, including paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. Other experts and support staff follow the universities' collective agreement, allowing for longer holidays than Finland standard.

In addition to Finland’s comprehensive social security, which covers financially supported family leaves, we offer our staff paid parental leaves taking into account different families in an equal way. We also offer paid work leave to take care of your sick children if needed. Overall, we consider families in many of our activities and events, for example, Spouse Network, is a programme aimed at spouses of our international staff to settle in Oulu socially and professionally.

You are covered by occupational health services and insurance

We support the well-being of our staff by offering you comprehensive preventive occupational health services and general medical care. In addition to statutory occupational health care, we provide you with extended occupational healthcare, including support for mental well-being. You have access to an occupational health nurse, occupational health physician (doctor), occupational physiotherapist and occupational psychologist as needed.

In addition, you have access to digital services and a remote medical service, through which, for example, you can get prescription renewals.

All staff are covered by the University of Oulu’s employee travel insurance and occupational accident insurance. We also offer insurance that covers accidents while working from home including lunch and coffee breaks.

Enjoy different well-being benefits

The University of Oulu offers you a wellness benefit covering sport, culture and well-being. Wellness benefit is a monetary benefit, which you can use however you wish, for example for a gym card, cultural events or dentist appointment. The goal of the wellness benefit is to support the maintenance of well-being and workability. A great thing is that the wellness benefit is a tax-free employee benefit that is not subject to withholding tax.

We also support the physical activity and well-being of our staff by offering the modern employee bicycle benefit. As our employee you will have a possibility to get a high-quality bike from wide selection at a cost-effective price. The employee bikes are also a concrete act for the environment.

In addition to financial benefits, we implement well-being surveys and development discussions and improve our operations to continuously support the well-being of our staff. You get to participate in recreational activities together with your team members to strengthen the community spirit and workflow.

Additional benefits

Staff benefits in brief

  • Flexible working hours
  • Remote work possibility
  • Occupational health services
  • Paid family leaves
  • Long annual holidays and holiday bonuses
  • Wellness benefit covering sport, culture and wellbeing
  • Great variety of competence development possibilities
  • Discounted meals at our campus restaurants
  • Sports services
  • Monetary rewards and incentives

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