Information about working life in services industry from survey of members

PAM’s survey of members was conducted from 16 November through 6 December. 4110 PAM members answered the survey. Themes in the survey in 2021 were among other things customer violence and harassment, covid-19, incomes, unemployment, working life, working hours, education, and breaks.

You can check all the results in the presentation (in Finnish) at the end of this article. Here are some highlights:

Customer violence and harassment

During the past 12 months, 66 percent of women and 55 per cent of men had experienced violence or harassment. It was most common to be a target of violence or harassment in private security.

Covid-19

Of respondents, 66 percent had experienced insecurity of income due to the covid-19 pandemic.

As the survey was conducted, 44 percent of those in work had been laid off or unemployed since the beginning of 2020. In the hotel, restaurant and leisure industry, 78 percent had been unemployed and/or laid off during the past two years.

Incomes

It seems, that the more precarious a position on the labour market, the more economic worries. On the other hand, even full-time employment does not mean economic hardship is gone.

Unemployment

Of those who responded, almost 40 percent name more than one structural issue that makes gaining employment more difficult.

Age and health status, as well as living where work opportunities are waning make if harder for many to find employment.

Working life

Zero-hour contracts have become more common in every sector. In facility services, every third part-time worker has a zero-hour contract.

Immediate supervisors have become ever more important.

Fewer workers in the private services sectors get to attend trainings with pay.

The survey of members has been conducted every year since 2011. The issues asked about are somewhat different from year to year.