Slide 1: Godfathers for new bus drivers – older workers support their younger counterparts
Eva Tuominen1 and Terhi Penttilä2
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland 2 Länsilinjat Oy, Tampere, Finland
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Slide 2: Länsilinjat Oy – bus company • Family owned company since 1939 • Employs 150 persons • 120 bus drivers • 80 buses • Short-haul traffic, regular service, express service and charter service • Respects long-term employment
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007
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Slide 3: Background • High staff turnover • Difficulties in recruiting • New drivers stayed only 1 – 2 years • Godfather drivers as a part of the new induction system
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007
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Slide 4: Actors 1: the key person • Terhi Penttilä • Administrative Manager • Länsilinjat Oy • Creator of the godfather driver system
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007
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Slide 5: Actors 2: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH)
"Let's build work ability together" • A project run by the FIOH 1999 - 2004 • Supported by European Social Fund • To support organizations to develop comprehensively • To create good practices • All actions initiated and implemented within the company • Results evaluated by FIOH
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007 5
Slide 6: Solution 1: godfather drivers • Experienced bus drivers with long work history • Introduce new drivers to important company practices • Support new drivers during some of their first runs • Follow the progress of the newcomer intensively for a couple of months • Become a trusted person to the newcomer
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007 6
Slide 7: Solution 2: godfather qualifications • Experience and long work history • Comprehensive know-how • Proper attitudes toward work practices • Acceptance of company values • Tolerance for diversity • Age not crucial
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007
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Slide 8: Solution 3: implementation • Superiors planned the programme • Co-operation with Educational Institute • Voluntary bus drivers requested • Training and education: - Professional driver's examination - Workplace training in mentoring • Since 2001, 40 new drivers (total 120) have undergone the new induction system
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007 8
Slide 9: Solution 4: recruiting path
interview of the applicant
• includes giving realistic knowledge of bus driver work
recruiting into company
tailored driving course (4 months)
•first meeting with godfather drivers
practice (1 month) license induction programme with godfather driver
• 4-30 days depending on the needs of the newcomer
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007 9
Slide 10: Solution 5: godfather system today
Head godfathers (n=2) • in charge of basic induction (first two days) • trusted persons to be contacted Assistant godfathers (n=8) • in charge of practical issues (routes, vehicles etc.) • follow newcomers during their bus run, range 2 – 30 days
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007 10
Slide 11: Conclusions 1: benefits for newcomers
• Comprehensive understanding of job as a whole • Facilitates learning process • Acquaintance with company's practices in a safe way • Support for feelings of uncertainty • Decreases stress • Acceptance by older drivers because they trust the newcomer's know-how • Career proceeds due to comprehensive know-how • Next step: driver's professional examination
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007 11
Slide 12: Conclusions 2: benefits for company • Decreased staff turnover • Homogenous services for clients • Economic runnig of vehicles • Opportunities for flexible work arrangements • Co-operation between experienced and new drivers • Well-being and job satisfaction
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007
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Slide 13: Conclusions 3: reasons for success • Win-win results for young and old • External co-operation with – educational institutes – authorities – other companies • Internal co-operation based on – openness – flexibility – individual needs – caring for all ages
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007 13
Slide 14: Kiitos! Gracias por su atención!
Euorpean Safe Start Summit / Finnish Institute of Occupational Health / Eva Tuominen / 22.3.2007
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