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The change in working life also affects work ability. At Varma we want to understand how work is changing and the challenges it places on work ability so that we can produce timely and reliable research-based information on work ability for our clients. On this page you will find our research publications, information about our projects and the latest research findings.
Our key objectives
Our objectives are
to identify and describe work ability risk factors in changing working life, and
to produce information on how the management of disability risks can be influenced.
We carry out research and studies as part of our own activities and in collaboration with research institutes and universities. In our studies we draw on register information from Varma’s application data and pension decisions, as well as information collected on research subjects, for instance from surveys and interviews. We also participate in developing Varma’s work ability services.
Managing ethical strain is a matter that concerns the entire work community!
Ethical strain refers to a conflict between work values and opportunities. It may occur in any type of work. If prolonged, ethical strain may reduce a person’s work ability. The workplace has the solution, however! A joint discussion is a good place to start managing stressful situations.
Our publication series ‘Information about work ability’
In our ‘Information about work ability’ publication series we address manifestations of work ability and disability, workload and resource factors in different industries and professions, as well as effective ways of managing disability risks. The ‘Solutions for work’ fact sheets offer workplaces concrete solutions for promoting work ability and managing the workload. The fact sheets are also available in Finnish and Swedish.
Future work ability management is strategic, proactive and inclusive
Social and health-care sector – concerns about the work ability of employees in the social and health-care sector, working conditions must be systematically developed
The service sector and work ability – researched information and methods for managing work stress in the retail sector and hotel and food service sector
Employment and rehabilitation of mental health rehabilitants through individual training at work
In collaboration with the career coaching company Spring House, Varma is piloting an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model as a means of rehabilitating and finding employment for mental health rehabilitants. The effectiveness of the IPS model is backed by solid research findings. Based on the pilot, Varma is implementing a comparative study to determine the IPS model’s effects on the work engagement of mental health rehabilitants, as well as the work ability and functional capacity of the rehabilitants. In addition, the study will create a model of and evaluate which mechanisms make the model effective.
In collaboration with Spring House, Varma is piloting an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model with mental health rehabilitants. We compare the impacts of the IPS model and those of the traditional vocational rehabilitation model on the work engagement of mental health rehabilitants and on their work ability and functional capacity.
Reasons for and the many paths of disability
In our longitudinal study, we look into the reasons for and paths to disability. The study draws on register information from the disability pension applications that Varma receives and from pension decisions. The study provides new information that supports disability risk management and contributes to identifying groups at risk of disability.
Young researchers tracking work ability
In the study, we look into the state of young people’s work ability and disability and the related factors. The study draws on Varma’s register data and data collected from the study subjects (surveys, interviews). The study increases understanding of young people’s disability and key ways to support work ability.
Research collaboration
We engage in research collaboration with research institutes and universities in projects related to various disability aspects, such as identifying and managing disability risks in changing working life.
