As a new measure, the city is offering its staff free coffee breaks to increase well-being and community spirit.

The City of Kankaanpää has prepared a new equality and non-discrimination plan for 2024–2025. The previous plan was valid for 2021–2023. Every employee in the city's work community should feel valued and equal. The equality and non-discrimination plan can be used to monitor and promote this issue.

The plan has been prepared in cooperation with personnel representatives. An equality and non-discrimination survey was sent to all personnel, the results of which were used in the preparation of the plan. 295 people responded to the survey, and the response rate was 44.

–Based on the responses, it can be concluded that the personnel consider the city's equality and non-discrimination situation to be mainly good. Of course, there is always room for improvement. We do not accept discrimination or racism in any form, emphasizes the city's Director of Administration and Human Resources Anna Vanhahonko.

The survey also asked about experiences with balancing work and other aspects of life. In these respects too, the situation was perceived as good, and flexible working hours and remote work in particular were perceived as supporting the balance.

The internal equality and non-discrimination plan includes issues such as an early support model, transparency and fairness in remuneration, a family-friendly culture and gender-neutral concepts. By offering coffee or tea breaks, the city wants to increase the well-being of its personnel during the working day and at the same time strengthen the cohesion of the work community.

–If the 50th or 60th birthday falls on a non-working day, the employee is entitled to additional paid leave. This change aims to reduce the feeling of injustice among the staff, says Vanhahonko.

The city must also take equality into account in its overall activities as a public authority. The focus areas are promoting accessibility, accessibility and the participation of local residents.

Progress is continuously monitored and reported annually in the well-being report. City personnel are encouraged to highlight any potential shortcomings in the implementation of equality or non-discrimination.

Additional information:
Anna Vanhahonko, Director of Administration and Human Resources, City of Kankaanpää, tel. +050 577 2213 XNUMX, [email protected]

Photo: Martti Tikka / Kuvaseura Pikseli