Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about training for workplace representatives
On this page you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions related to shop steward training. If you can't find the answer, put a message to koulutus@pam.fi.
Before the course:
WHO IS TRAINING FOR STAFF REPRESENTATIVES MEANT FOR?
HOW DO I APPLY FOR TRAINING FOR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES?
CAN I ATTEND TRAINING WHEREVER I WANT?
ON BASIC AND ADVANCED COURSES, CAN I CHOOSE WHICH SECTIONS 1 AND 2 I TAKE?
WHAT IF I AM NOT SELECTED FOR A COURSE?
WHO BOOKS AND PAYS FOR TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION AND ON WHAT BASIS?
CAN I STAY IN A SINGLE ROOM?
HOW CAN I AGREE A CARSHARE WITH OTHERS COMING FROM THE SAME AREA?
WHAT IS MY EMPLOYER DOESN’T PAY MY WAGES (LOSS OF EARNINGS) DURING THE COURSE?
WHAT IF MY EMPLOYER DOESN’T LET ME GO ON THE COURSE (DOESN’T GRANT STUDY LEAVE)?
WHAT DO I NEED TO TAKE ON THE COURSE?
CAN I GO TO THE COURSE BY TAXI?
CAN I GO TO THE COURSE BY PLANE?
HOW DO I APPLY FOR COURSES AT KILJAVA INSTITUTE AND WHO ARE THE COURSES MEANT FOR?
CAN I CHANGE TRAVEL TICKETS THAT ARE ALREADY BOOKED?
HOW DO I APPLY FOR KSL COURSES AND DOES PAM PAY FOR THE COURSE AND EXPENSES DURING THE COURSE?
CAN I CANCEL MY PLACE IN A COURSE?
WHAT TIME DO COURSES START?
WHAT IF I FALL ILL DURING THE COURSE?
WHAT IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT DURING THE COURSE?
CAN I DO MY OWN THINGS DURING THE COURSE?
CAN I SKIP THE COURSE DINNERS?
DOES PAM PAY PARKING CHARGES DURING THE COURSE?
WHEN DO I NEED TO SUBMIT MY TRAVEL EXPENSE CLAIM AFTER THE COURSE?
WHEN CAN I GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE COURSE?
AM I PAID DAILY ALLOWANCES DURING THE COURSE?
ARE TRAVEL COSTS REIMBURSED IF I HAVE LOST THE RECEIPT?
WHO IS TRAINING FOR STAFF REPRESENTATIVES MEANT FOR?
The training is meant for all shop stewards and occupational safety representatives (also deputies) as well as occupational safety nominees.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR TRAINING FOR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES?
Apply for training in the event calendar.
Registration:
1) Choose the course you want to register for in the PAM event calendar
2) Press 'Register'
3) Log in with your online banking codes or mobile ID and complete the registration.
Read more about applying for training here.
CAN I ATTEND TRAINING WHEREVER I WANT?
Basic courses are held in various localities.
As a rule you should aim to attend basic courses/advanced courses in your own locality. If suitable training or a suitable date is not available in your own locality, then you can register for training in another locality.
ON BASIC AND ADVANCED COURSES, CAN I CHOOSE WHICH SECTIONS 1 AND 2 I TAKE?
The parts of a course are an entity and the timetables and content of the course can vary. For this reason courses are always taken as whole courses.
WHAT IF I AM NOT SELECTED FOR A COURSE?
Sometimes there are more applicants for a course than the maximum number of participants. Then we have to make a selection and we let you know as soon as possible if you are not selected. Also check that you have applied for the course correctly and you have notified PAM of your staff representative role. This facilitates and speeds up the selection process. You can notify your role here (in Finnish).
WHO BOOKS AND PAYS FOR TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION AND ON WHAT BASIS?
You book travel yourself following the instructions in the course letter. The bill goes straight to PAM. Book your travel as quickly as possible after getting your course letter. The course secretary books accommodation for long-distance attendees if necessary. Let us know your requirements when you register. PAM pays for accommodation and travel to the course is reimbursed based on PAM’s travel guidelines. Public transport and car sharing are preferred for reimbursement of travel costs. If you travel to your course alone by private car, we pay half of the official kilometre allowance, but any parking charges are not reimbursed. If at least one other course attendee travels in your car, the full kilometre allowance is paid and parking fees are paid if no free parking is available.
CAN I STAY IN A SINGLE ROOM?
You can only get a single room for health reasons. These reasons must always be specified separately to the course secretary of the particular course. You can also get a single room at your own expense by paying the difference in the room rates (2 persons/1 person) if the hotel has rooms available.
HOW CAN I AGREE A CARSHARE WITH OTHERS COMING FROM THE SAME AREA?
You can check the names of participants from the same area in the course letter. Their phone number is given next to their name if they have given permission to share their details for car sharing.
WHAT IS MY EMPLOYER DOESN’T PAY MY WAGES (LOSS OF EARNINGS) DURING THE COURSE?
As a rule, basic courses are covered by employer support. You can see employer support for all sectors and course approval instructions for employers’ representatives here. There are exceptions in the number of days covered by employer support, so notify any loss of earnings you will have in the course application. After the course you will need to complete a course attendee’s net loss of earnings certificate, which you can find here, and attach it to your travel expense claim. PAM pays the loss of earnings according to your net earnings in the form of a course allowance and scholarship. In 2021, its amount will not exceed EUR 79.20 per course day.
WHAT IF MY EMPLOYER DOESN’T LET ME GO ON THE COURSE (DOESN’T GRANT STUDY LEAVE)?
For a valid reason, an employer can postpone course attendance. As a rule, it can only be postponed once. Check the collective agreement and training agreement for your sector for more details.
WHAT DO I NEED TO TAKE ON THE COURSE?
The location of the course and accommodation, if any, are given in the course letter. You can take a look at the course location in advance on their website. But the courses are about doing things together and everyone can come just as they are.
CAN I GO TO THE COURSE BY TAXI?
Always check with the course secretary about taking taxis. We do not reimburse taxi journeys that haven’t been agreed in advance. We try to organise the courses so that they are easily reached and there is no need to take a taxi.
CAN I GO TO THE COURSE BY PLANE?
As a rule, travel to courses is by train or other public transport. Travel by plane or taxi always have to be authorised separately. Travel by plane is agreed with the course leader, so contact the course secretary by e-mail as early as possible.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR COURSES AT KILJAVA INSTITUTE AND WHO ARE THE COURSES MEANT FOR?
A course application must be completed for general courses at Kiljava Institute (they are not in the PAM course calendar). Send the application to PAM. We check it and forward it to Kiljava. The course arrangements are taken care of by Kiljava Institute’s own course secretary. As a staff representative you can participate in a maximum of one general course a year, in addition to PAM’s own customised courses.
CAN I CHANGE TRAVEL TICKETS THAT ARE ALREADY BOOKED?
Travel tickets are generally booked through a travel agency, and if you need to make changes you can contact the travel agency. If you are unable to attend a course, remember to cancel your travel tickets too.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR KSL COURSES AND DOES PAM PAY FOR THE COURSE AND EXPENSES DURING THE COURSE?
For KSL courses, PAM pays the course fee, if you are in the course’s target group, but no other costs. Register directly with KSL www.ksl.fi.
CAN I CANCEL MY PLACE IN A COURSE?
If something prevents you from attending your course, let the course secretary know as soon as possible. If you are absent without cancelling, we will have to charge you for part of the course fees.
During the course:
WHAT TIME DO COURSES START?
Check the starting time of the course in the course letter. On the first day, courses generally start between 9-11 am.
WHAT IF I FALL ILL DURING THE COURSE?
Tell the course secretary and the trainer straight away.
WHAT IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT DURING THE COURSE?
Course attendees are insured with TURVA. If you have an accident, let the course trainer know straight away. PAM has also taken out leisure travel insurance for staff representatives. Check this here! N.B. make sure you have notified your staff representative role to PAM.
CAN I DO MY OWN THINGS DURING THE COURSE?
Course attendance is mandatory, so course time is for training purposes only.
CAN I SKIP THE COURSE DINNERS?
The dinners are a good time for teaming up and networking, so you should always aim to attend these too. Networking with other staff representatives is important.
DOES PAM PAY PARKING CHARGES DURING THE COURSE?
PAM only pays parking charges for car sharing drivers on presentation of a receipt.
After the course:
WHEN DO I NEED TO SUBMIT MY TRAVEL EXPENSE CLAIM AFTER THE COURSE?
Do your expense claim for your travel-related costs no later than 2-3 weeks after the end of the course. Expense claims are processed in the order they are received.
WHEN CAN I GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE COURSE?
Course feedback is done electronically, and after the end of the course you are e-mailed a link to a survey. You can also give feedback directly to the course trainer during the course. We are happy to receive any feedback and we are constantly improving our training.
AM I PAID DAILY ALLOWANCES DURING THE COURSE?
No daily allowances are paid for course days. Long-distance attendees may be entitled to travel allowances if they leave for the course the previous day.
ARE TRAVEL COSTS REIMBURSED IF I HAVE LOST THE RECEIPT?
Unfortunately we cannot reimburse without a receipt for accounting reasons.