Why FinlandSanna Downing

Human Resources

Senior Specialist, Global Mobility

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd

Finland is known for its innovative technology, balanced with pure nature. VTT is located in a unique concentration of high technology

and specialist organizations, in the Otaniemi area. The headquarters of several well known companies like Kone, Microsoft and Neste

Oil are situated in the nearby area.

Both the public and the private sector are committed to investing in R&D and Finland’s highly educated people have a positive can-do

attitude towards innovation.

In addition, social security in Finland is based on residence and so the benefits can be claimed by those who live in or relocate

permanently to Finland.

As part of our commitment to promote international exposure, for permanent new hires we provide a language training and also

relocation support in the form of a service which assists in finding accommodation and registering with the Finnish authorities to make

your arrival and stay in Finland easier.

312/12/2017 3

Best place for families Did you know that even the top ranked schools in Finland are free? Finland

has also held first place in OECD’s Programme for Student Assessment

(PISA) for several years, ranking Finland’s education system as one of the

world’s best.

Social security provides care and support for both families and children.

Benefits include:

• Child benefit starting 94,88EUR/month from the first child

• Paternity leave for a maximum of 54 days

• Maternity package or maternity grant

• Child welfare and maternity clinics are also available

Day care – children under school age are generally entitled to communal /

public day care in Finland (some restrictions apply)

Also public transport can be free in some cities for a parent travelling with a

child with a buggy

Do you know that

there is a law

which says that all

the apartment

buildings must

have an outside

play area for

children?

412/12/2017 4

Social security in Finland

Citizens outside EU/EEA or Switzerland

for those with a VTT contract of employment lasting at least 2 years or an open-ended

contract, you are eligible for Finnish social security benefits

for those employed by VTT between 4 months and 2 years,

you will have health insurance coverage from the Finnish

social security institution KELA

Citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland

Eligible for social security coverage from KELA

Please see KELA website for further information: www.kela.fi

Families

Sickness

512/12/2017 5

Healthcare

Finland has an excellent health care system which is funded mainly by taxes. Finland has a

highly decentralized 3-level publicly funded system of health care (Kela) and alongside

these, a much smaller private health care system. In addition to other healthcare services,

VTT provides occupational healthcare services for the employee at Terveystalo.

Municipal healthcare: when visiting a clinic or hospital, patients need to pay access charges

of around 15–30€ per visit, depending on the municipality. There is also a maximum

amount of payment defined, after which certain visits are free. For example in Oulu (2015),

the cap is 679€.

Giving birth in Finland is only possible at our excellent public hospitals.

This ensures quality care for all the people in Finland.

Insurances – unlike the American system in Finland one can rely on public health care

even though the trend seems to be now to take some healthcare and accident

insurances. Insurance amounts for child insurances can be as low as 400€/year.

When using private healthcare, there is a discount provided by Kela, which is

applied to certain charges such as doctor’s fees. For example a visit to the doctor

for a child could cost as little as 78€ after Kela discount.

612/12/2017 6

Taxation

Countries with high levels of social security usually have high levels of taxation as well;

Finland is no exception although the individual is able to make some deductions including

commuting costs which are over the set limit.

Contrary to many other countries in Finland one can file their own tax return electronically and

asses one’s taxes based on personal situation with an online tax calculator.

The tax office has information in English on their website and their staff is able to assist

customers in English as well

Some useful links to Finnish taxation:

Online tax calculator

Tax card online

Tax Guide, Individuals 2017

712/12/2017 7

A society that runs well makes everyday living easier

Finland has a good public transport network and the cost of transport is low.

For example an Espoo ticket (valid for travel within Espoo, the city in which

the suburb of Otaniemi is located, which is where VTT Headquarters is) costs

54,70€ / month. The public transport network is one of the reasons Finland

has the cleanest air.

Many international airlines use Helsinki as their transport hub between East

and West.

Finland is also an extremely safe place and Finnish children are used to be

quite independent from an early age. Finland is one of the rare places where

mobile phone and wallets might still be returned to their owner – and

sometimes by taxi. According to a Readers Digest’s test, 11 out of 12 wallets

left in public places as a test were returned.

This, and our high level of education, is probably why there is an extensive

startup culture: Aalto University in the capital area has a very active

entrepreneurial society (AaltoES), there is a regular startup incubation

program called StartUpSauna and an annual event called Slush which

attracts a global audience.

812/12/2017 8

Land of a Thousand Lakes

Finland is known for its lake and nature. We have a system

called everyman’s rights (jokamiehenoikeus), which allows

everyone to walk freely anywhere to enjoy the Finnish nature

both in winter and in summer.

With our extensive network of bicycle lanes, you can enjoy

cycling or other sports on wheels like roller blading easily to

get easily to the many lakes, parks and golf courses – you can

even play golf past midnight in the summer!

The playgrounds are free and available for anyone

Oittaa Angry Birds Playground

Leppävaara Angry Bird Playground

912/12/2017 9

2 400 employees… do you have what it takes to be

the next new employee?

Working in a globally networked top-level research organization

opens up a fascinating spectrum of career opportunities for professionals

with various backgrounds.

Only at VTT :

You can challenge yourself in developing future technologies

You have the opportunity to manage international research projects with

a focus on scientific breakthroughs

You can work closely together with customers

VTT offers you the possibility to develop your competences and build

your career path in countless ways.

Welcome to a workpalce where you can learn something new every day!

1012/12/2017 10

Great development opportunities

Challenging assignments

International projects

Internal and external training opportunities

Expat opportunities

Supported self motivated learning

Research leave for doctorate theses

Salary

Monthly base pay

Variable reward elements including:

Recognition Reward

Doctorate Thesis Reward

IPR and Innovation reward

What we offer

Benefits

Longer vacations compared to the private

sector

Flexible working hours

Phone benefit

Occupational health care

Sports and leisure activities

1112/12/2017 11

www.vttresearch.com

#VTTpeople, @VTTFinland

Thank you!