The Helsinki benefit will change on January 1, 2026, and employers can apply for it as a separate subsidy. Read more in the City of Helsinki’s news article.

Dismissals and lay-offs at the workplace

Helsinki Employment Services provide employers and employees with support and services in the event of dismissals, lay-offs and operational restructuring.

Ihmiset keskustelevat pöydän ääressä.
Photo: Antti Kokkola

On this site

Advice and support for employers
Helsinki Employment Services provide employers and employees with advice and support in the event of dismissals and lay-offs.
Employer’s obligations
Employers have certain obligations when it comes to making changes to personnel employment relationships, which depend on their total number of employees and the number of employees to be dismissed or laid off.
Advice and support for employees
Helsinki Employment Services offer advice and support in the event of dismissal or lay-off, as well as information on your rights when it comes to changes at the workplace.

External resources

Lay-off notification and certificate template, PDF (in Finnish) (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
You can prepare a lay-off notification and certificate for your employee.
Instructions for employers concerning lay-offs (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Lay-offs must always be based on specific grounds in accordance with the Employment Contracts Act.
General information about change negotiations (Cooperation Ombudsman)
Change negotiations must be carried out even if only one employee’s position is to be essentially changed on production-related or financial grounds.
Transition security for the employer (Job Market Finland)
Transition security helps both the employer and the employees being dismissed.