Targeted work walks boost knowledge about the potential for targeted work
Targeted work walk is an operating model helping organisations to tackle challenges arising from finding workforce from the perspective of targeted work.
A person with targeted work ability is able and willing to use at least part of their work ability. Targeted work ability can be permanent or temporary. In targeted work, the employee’s ability to work matches the requirements of the job and the opportunities it provides, which means that a person with targeted work ability is fully capable of performing tasks that have been tailored for them.
Targeted work walk is an operating model for on-site use at the workplace. The person responsible for personnel recruitment in the organisation, the employee in question, a job coach, and an expert by experience possessing targeted work ability take part in the targeted work walk. The representative of the project related to the targeted work walk also records observations and matters highlighted in the discussions.
Producing an overview of the situation in the organisation
The persons participating in the targeted work walk familiarise themselves with the facilities of the workplace, work tasks, and operating methods. The focus is on development priorities and work tasks that may have been overlooked in the past. The participants also discuss the expertise and competence required at the workplace now and in the future. The aim is also to enhance awareness of the potential for targeted work, influence attitudes, and dispel prejudices.
After the targeted work walk, the organisation will receive a summary of the observations made during the walk. Further action can be discussed with the organisation if the observations indicate that development priorities exist or that the organisation needs support in such areas as work design or recruitment of individuals with targeted work ability.
Benefits of targeted work walk
The targeted work walk is beneficial to the organisation in many ways.
- It enhances awareness of the potential of the persons with targeted work ability, their potential as employees, and the potential of work design.
- The organisation becomes aware of work tasks the existence of which may have been overlooked and for which no employees are available. In this way, productive work can be focused in a more reasonable manner.
- The organisation receives valuable information that also helps in the familiarisation of new employees or seasonal workers and in situations where there are changes in the work ability of the company’s existing personnel.
- The targeted work walk is a tool that can be used to enhance the organisation’s social responsibility.
Positive experiences encourage development of the method
Experiences of targeted work walks have been positive. With targeted work walks, organisations have been able to pinpoint tasks suited for targeted work, generated new ideas, and identified development priorities in the field of occupational safety and in areas essential for workplace familiarisation.
Targeted work walks are part of the project to coordinate the improvement of operating prerequisites of social enterprises (ESF+) and the activities of the Centre of Expertise for Social Enterprises (YYO). Live Foundation is also involved in the project as a co-actor.
One of the aims of the development work carried out in the coordination project is to identify good employment models in Finland and elsewhere in Europe. After the models have been evaluated, the best of them will be disseminated on a national basis. Targeted work walk is one of these models, and it has been developed and piloted in cooperation with organisations in the Helsinki region, Central Finland, North Ostrobothnia and Eastern Finland during 2024. The aim is that information about targeted work walks can be disseminated more extensively and that the method will also be introduced in other regions.