Finland
Overview
Please review the information below and then return to the workplace harassment prevention course.
Harassment and discrimination based on a protected characteristic are prohibited under national law. National law also provides employees protection from bullying.
Applicable Laws
The primary national laws prohibiting employment discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected characteristics are:
- The Employment Contracts Act,
- The Non-discrimination Act, 2014,
- The Act on Equality between Women and Men, 1986, and
- The Penal Code, 1889.
Employers have an obligation, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2002, to take measures to prevent and remedy workplace bullying.
Protected Characteristics
Harassment or discrimination based on any characteristic set forth below is prohibited in Finland.
- Age
- Sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, parenthood and family responsibilities)
- Gender identity or expression
- State of health or disability
- Ethnic origin or nationality
- Sexual orientation
- Religion or belief
- Language
- Race or colour
- Trade union or political activity
- Other similar personal characteristics
Regional, state or other political subdivision laws may provide additional, separate standards and remedies for certain prohibited conduct.
Definitions
Harassment
Harassment is unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that results in the deliberate or de facto infringement of the dignity of a person and creates a degrading or humiliating, intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is unwanted, verbal, non-verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature, which intentionally or actually violates a person’s mental or physical integrity, especially by creating a threatening, hostile, degrading, humiliating or oppressive atmosphere.
Gender-Based Harassment
Gender-based harassment is unwanted behavior related to a person’s sex, gender identity or gender expression, which is not sexual in nature and which intentionally or actually violates the person’s mental or physical integrity and which creates a threatening, hostile, degrading, humiliating or oppressive atmosphere .
Filing a Claim in Finland
A complaint related to employment discrimination or harassment may be submitted to the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Employment discrimination and harassment claims may also be filed in court.
Potential Remedies
In Finland, an employee who has experienced workplace discrimination or harassment may be entitled to monetary and other remedies. An employer may be required to take certain actions to correct or redress discriminatory harassment or violations of workplace safety standards. Potential remedies are listed below.
- Hiring
- Transfers
- Reassignments
- Promotions
- Reinstatement to a position
- Compensation for lost wages and benefits
- Damages for injury to dignity or feelings
- Cease and desist orders
Retaliation Prohibited
Employer retaliation against an employee who files a complaint relating to discrimination or harassment or is involved in the complaint process is unlawful.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only.
It does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.