Finland's Social Insurance Institution (Kela) faces internal turmoil as leadership members voice criticism about Director General Lasse Lehtonen's management style and public statements. Board Chairman Vertti Kiukas confirmed receiving critical feedback from within the organization's leadership team during a recent board delegates meeting.
The controversy centers on Lehtonen's communication approach and how he has spoken about staff members. Kiukas revealed that approximately a dozen critical messages have surfaced within just two weeks, an unusual volume for the typically stable institution. The feedback specifically addresses the director general's public appearances and comments about personnel.
Kela plays a vital role in Finnish society, administering essential social security benefits including health insurance, unemployment benefits, and family allowances to millions of citizens. As one of Finland's largest public organizations, internal discord at its highest levels could potentially impact service delivery and public trust.
One senior manager, Nina Nissilä, who oversees IT and security services for approximately 1,400 employees, has taken direct action by apologizing to staff for Lehtonen's word choices. She conducted two separate Teams meetings with her subordinates to address the situation. Nissilä emphasized that her sympathies lie with the staff, acknowledging this has been a difficult experience for employees, particularly given the public reactions and media coverage.
The political dimension adds complexity to the situation. Kiukas comes from a Social Democratic background while Lehtonen represents the National Coalition Party tradition. This political divide within leadership positions is common in Finnish public administration but can create additional tensions during internal conflicts.
Despite the criticism, the board maintains it has not lost confidence in Lehtonen. Kiukas reiterated that the board affirmed its support for the director general just last week. The organization now faces the challenge of addressing internal concerns while maintaining public confidence in its operations.
What makes this situation particularly noteworthy is the public nature of the internal criticism. In typically consensus-oriented Finnish organizational culture, such open discussion of leadership disagreements is unusual. The remaining leadership team has issued an internal statement supporting staff and emphasizing the value of personnel to the entire organization.
The chief shop steward Tuula Hällfors-Laaksonen sees positive developments, noting that efforts to rebuild trust have begun and the leadership team has made good initiatives in this direction. She stressed that Kela employees deserve respect and peace to do their work.
This situation reflects broader challenges facing Nordic welfare institutions as they balance efficient administration with maintaining staff morale and public confidence. The outcome could influence how other public sector organizations in Finland handle internal leadership disputes going forward.