Kela Director General Lasse Lehtonen has sparked controversy by blaming his agency's communications team for his own problematic statements about staff retention. The social security institution leader first apologized for his comments, then shifted responsibility in a late-night social media post.
Lehtonen initially told media that Kela has no particular need to retain staff in the current economic and labor situation. He later apologized during an emergency board meeting, calling his word choices unsuccessful and acknowledging they failed to show proper respect to Kela professionals.
However, in the early hours following the meeting, Lehtonen posted on social media platform X that his communications team should have prepared better messaging materials. He claimed proper communication planning could have prevented what he called his 'frogs' - meaning his verbal missteps.
The director wrote that he had asked the communications unit in August to develop a plan for discussing this difficult topic. He stated this preparation never happened, suggesting his controversial comments could have been avoided with better communication support.
Kela's communications director confirmed the authenticity of Lehtonen's since-deleted post. She noted the director published it after the board meeting and later decided to remove it himself. The communications director emphasized they continue working closely with Lehtonen and that he understands communication's value.
This incident raises serious questions about leadership accountability at Finland's largest social security institution. Kela manages critical benefits including unemployment payments, health reimbursements, and family allowances affecting millions of Finns. The agency employs approximately 7,500 professionals across Finland.
Leadership experts note that blaming communications teams for substantive policy statements reflects poorly on organizational culture. When senior leaders make controversial remarks about staff retention during economic uncertainty, then attribute responsibility elsewhere, it undermines employee trust and public confidence.
This situation comes amid ongoing challenges in Finland's public sector workforce management. Many government agencies face recruitment and retention difficulties despite economic pressures. Kela's role in distributing essential social benefits makes stable leadership particularly important for maintaining public trust.
The director's contradictory responses - formal apology followed by blame-shifting - suggest internal tensions within the organization's leadership. Such public disputes typically indicate deeper management issues that could affect service delivery and organizational effectiveness.
What remains unclear is how this leadership controversy might impact Kela's operations and staff morale. The institution plays a crucial role in Finnish social security, processing millions of benefit applications annually. Any erosion of leadership credibility could have far-reaching consequences for both employees and benefit recipients.
The communications director's statement about continuing close cooperation suggests efforts to maintain stability. However, the public nature of this dispute makes resolution more challenging. The situation requires careful management to prevent lasting damage to institutional reputation and employee relations.