Case Skaala – Highlighting the challenges of wellbeing at work and clarifying the priorities for improvement

Skaala is a Finnish company specialising in windows and doors, which designs and manufactures energy-efficient window and door solutions for northern climates. Founded in 1956, Skaala manufactures its products at its own factories in South Ostrobothnia and serves customers both in Finland and internationally. The company’s product range includes, amongst other things, windows, external doors, patio doors and sliding glass doors. Skaala is part of the Austrian IFN Group and one of Finland’s best-known window and door brands.

”We now have a plain-language version explaining exactly what, beneath the big headline, is the specific point worth paying attention to.”

– Oona Keskinen, Head of Human Resources, Skaala IFN Oy

During the joint pilot programme run by More Than Group and Skaala, it became apparent at Skaala that there was a need to conduct a workplace wellbeing survey that was as practical and solution-focused as possible, in order to address the challenges of day-to-day working life. As an existing partner, More Than Group was selected to carry out the survey.

The aim of the survey was to gain a clearer understanding of the factors affecting staff wellbeing at work and the specific areas on which the organisation should focus in the coming years. This was prompted by changes that had taken place within the organisation and their impact on staff. Previous well-being at work surveys had identified various trends and highlighted key themes, but it was difficult to determine from these where to begin with practical improvements.

”We knew that there were certain areas we needed to focus on in the coming years. Now we wanted more detailed guidelines on what the number one priority is from the staff’s perspective,” explains Skaala’s HR Manager Oona Keskinen.

Subscriber

Skaala IFN Ltd

Our role

A strategic partner

An outside perspective brings neutrality to the survey

It was important to Skaala that the state of well-being at work be assessed through a survey carried out by an external partner. When conducting a survey in-house, there is always a risk that the organisation’s own views or preconceptions will influence the way the questions are framed. An external contractor brought a neutral perspective to this.

”When you use an external party to conduct the survey, it removes that stumbling block for HR – how to ensure my own views don’t influence the way the questions are framed. You get an impartial, external perspective, which ensures that the questions do not lead the respondent in any particular direction,” Oona explains.

From broad headlines to specific areas for development

The key benefit of the survey for Skaala was that it enabled broad themes relating to wellbeing at work to be broken down into more concrete terms. Based on the survey and analysis carried out by More Than Group, Skaala gained a clear-cut overview of the whole picture: what is actually happening beneath the broader themes and which issues the organisation should prioritise.

”In previous surveys, we have identified challenges at headline level, but these are such broad categories that a great many issues fall under them. Now we have a plain-language version of this – what actually lies beneath the broad heading is the specific issue worth paying attention to. It helps us better understand where to start and what we, as a company, need,” says Oona.

Based on the survey, More Than Group drew up a summary report, an analysis and concrete proposals for development for Skaala to work on further. Next, the results will be discussed in small groups with all staff members so that the findings from the survey can be linked as practically as possible to day-to-day work.

Would you recommend More Than Group as a partner for a development survey of this kind?

In Skaala’s experience, the benefit of working with an external partner lies particularly in the objective formulation of questions and the ability to present the survey results in a way that is easy to understand and put into practice.

”I would certainly recommend it,” he says Antti Hautapakka, Managing Director of Skaala. ”The analysis we received was extensive and comprehensive, and we recognised ourselves in it. It gave us both new ideas and confirmation of the decisions we had already made.”

Oona agrees: ”Yes, I would recommend it. The survey helped us identify potential pain points in much greater detail than before. This provides a good basis for continuing our development work.”

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In addition to the references described above, we have carried out a number of different types of client projects, and we are happy to share the lessons learned with you.