Finland's Social Insurance Institution faces internal turmoil after its director general made controversial statements about remote work policies. Lasse Lehtonen has publicly apologized for his word choices during discussions about Kela's new office attendance requirements.
The conflict reached a critical point when Kela's board called an extraordinary meeting to address the situation. Board chairman Vertti Kiukas confirmed the meeting was necessary after public debate about the new remote work guidelines and workplace atmosphere gained significant media attention.
Lehtonen had previously stated that Kela didn't need to hold onto employees 'at all costs' given current workforce conditions. These comments sparked strong reactions from staff and politicians alike.
Following the board meeting, Lehtonen acknowledged his missteps. 'My word choices in this discussion have not been successful,' he admitted. 'My comments have not shown the respect that our professionals at Kela deserve, and for that I apologize.'
The new policy requires employees to work from the office at least once weekly or four times monthly starting next year. Many staff members view this mandate as inflexible, leading to heated discussions that involved top politicians.
Kiukas noted that while Lehtonen's substantive points about Kela's situation and necessary changes were largely correct, his expression 'might have been too sharp.' The board chairman emphasized that different audiences require different communication approaches.
This controversy highlights the ongoing tension in Finnish workplaces regarding remote work policies. Many Finnish organizations are struggling to balance operational needs with employee preferences for flexibility. The situation at Kela reflects broader debates happening across Nordic countries about the future of work arrangements.
Lehtonen assumed the director general position in June, moving from his previous role as diagnostics director at the Helsinki University Hospital group. His transition to leading one of Finland's most important social welfare institutions has proven challenging amid changing workplace expectations.
The board expressed confidence that communication with staff can be repaired and that Kela can continue progressing toward its transformation goals under Lehtonen's leadership. Both Lehtonen and the board have committed to ongoing dialogue with employees about implementing the new work arrangement policies.
For international observers, this situation demonstrates how even Nordic countries with strong worker protections face challenges adapting to post-pandemic work norms. The outcome at Kela could influence remote work policies across other Finnish public institutions and private companies monitoring the situation.