Pirkanmaa council tackles workplace bullying, €42m sick-leave bill and elderly care backlogs

At a remote meeting on Monday, Pirkanmaa regional councillors confronted alarming staff wellbeing figures and lengthy waiting lists for elderly care, according to Aamulehti. The employee Net Promoter Score rose to plus seven in June, but negative responses were concentrated in children and family services, psychiatry and rescue services. Councillors pointed to chronic poor leadership and widespread bullying; 16 percent of staff reported being bullied. Keva calculated that more than €42 million of the region’s 2025 payroll went to sick leave.

Welfare region director Marina Erhola said a broad working group will investigate ways to reduce absences. Service line director Päivi Tryykin estimated it would cost about €5 million a year to clear hospital queues for 24/7 care places. Several councillors urged better tools, faster follow-up on complaints and learning from better-performing subsidiaries such as Coxa.

Earlier reporting said harassment, doxxing and threats against Pirha staff have increased putting extra pressure on managers and HR, and that the welfare area has opened co-operation talks that could affect nearly 620 employees with proposed cuts concentrated in eldercare and disability services.