What does ‘work ability’ mean?
There are many factors that affect your ability to work. In addition to your health, factors such as your skills, functional capacity, life situation and work requirements also affect your ability to work.
Your work ability is at its best when there is a balance between your mental and physical resources and the work requirements. Your work ability can change in different life situations, and you can influence it with various support measures. At Employment Services, we will support you even when you have diminished work ability.
An illness, disability or other life circumstances do not necessarily prevent you from finding work; the right job and the right kind of support can help you find your place in the workforce. Through conversation, we can assess your situation and guide you to the services that best suit your needs.
Work ability assessments support job seeking
At Employment Services, we will ask you to assess your work ability as part of our job search services. This assessment uses a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represents your work ability at its best.
Your own assessment is important, as it helps identify any needs for support and find solutions that are right for you when your work ability and job search require special support.
When is it a good idea to talk about your work ability?
Discuss your work ability with your specialist if:
- an illness, disability or other health-related reasons hinder your job search
- you need support in order to find a suitable job
- you are concerned about your coping at work
- you need an assessment of your work ability or additional assessments of your situation.
If you have any health information relating to your work ability, such as a medical statement from a doctor, please provide your specialist with the up-to-date documents. They will be helpful in assessing your need for services.
What does ‘diminished work ability’ mean?
A jobseeker with partial work ability is a person whose work ability has been diminished but who is still able to work to some extent and is willing to use this partial work ability in working life. Partial work ability can be temporary or long-term.
Diminished work ability does not mean that you are entirely unable to work. Many people with partial work ability are able to find a suitable job where the work responsibilities, working hours or working conditions match their functional capacity.
A person with partial work ability may have full work ability in the right job
While a person with partial work ability may not be able to carry out all types of tasks, they may have full work ability in a specific role or work environment.
The aim of Employment Services is to help you find a job where your skills and work ability can be put to the best possible use.
What if you are not currently able to work?
If you are currently unable to work, even with support measures in place, we will refer you to the services, rehabilitation or other forms of support that you need. We will always assess your situation on a case-by-case basis.
Depending on your circumstances, services such as vocational rehabilitation or another service designed to support your work ability and functional capacity could be an option for you.
Services for jobseekers with partial work ability
Employment Services offer several services that are intended to support your job search and employment if you have diminished work ability.
Pay subsidies for people with partial work ability
The employer can receive a pay subsidy if an illness or disability affects a jobseeker’s chances of finding employment. A pay subsidy can make it easier to find work and provide an opportunity to demonstrate your skills in practice.
Read more about pay subsidies for people with partial work ability
Subsidy for arranging working conditions
Subsidies for arranging working conditions help employers make the necessary changes or purchases at work to allow employees to carry on working despite an illness or disability.
Read more about subsidies for arranging working conditions
Certificate for incapacitated jobseekers
In certain circumstances, you can request a certificate for incapacitated jobseekers to support your job search if you have a disability or illness that affects your employment.
The purpose of this certificate is to help you find employment, particularly with major employers in the private sector. It may make the employer more willing to hire a jobseeker with partial work ability and can support you in finding a job on the open job market.
We will issue the certificate if we assess that it will be beneficial to your employment prospects. Your specialist will help you assess whether the certificate is necessary in your particular circumstances.
Read more about the certificate for jobseekers with partial work ability
Health check-ups for the unemployed
Health check-ups for the unemployed assess your health, wellbeing, work ability and functional capacity. The aim of the check-up is to identify any needs for support and support you in finding work.
Read more about health check-ups for the unemployed
Work ability assessments and Work Ability Support Services
If your work ability or functional capacity requires a more detailed assessment, we will refer you to a work ability assessment or other services that support your work ability. The assessment will help assess your work ability, rehabilitation needs and potential paths towards employment, education or rehabilitation.
Other support services for work ability
If you are primarily in need of support from healthcare, rehabilitation or social services, we can help you identify the right services.
We can discuss with you whether any of the following or other services could be of help in your situation:
- City of Helsinki health services
- Kela sickness allowance(Link leads to external service)
- Kela vocational rehabilitation(Link leads to external service)
- Kela rehabilitation subsidy and disability pension(Link leads to external service)
- Vocational rehabilitation(Link leads to external service)
- Rehabilitative work activities
- Work Ability Support Services
Discuss your situation with your specialist so that together we can figure out what type of support will best help you move forward in your job search and working life.