Hymyilevä työntekijä leipomon työvaatteissa ja suojahanskoissa.

Elonen Oy

Pihlajalinna’s and Elonen’s occupational health care cooperation is based on continuous dialogue.

Elonen and Pihlajalinna have been occupational health partners for over a decade. This cooperation has resulted in significant improvements in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders and support for working capacity. The cooperation is based on an open and solution-focused approach.

A provider of bakery products and café and restaurant services, Elonen Group began its occupational health care cooperation with Pihlajalinna in 2012. The cooperation has been open and seamless from the very beginning, and it has focused on early identification of work-related challenges.

– Pihlajalinna’s team has understood the needs of the bakery sector well, and we have developed preventive occupational healthcare together, summarises Hanna Kivimäki, Head of Human Resources at Elonen.

Elonen Oy provides bakery and confectionary services

Elonen Oy is a Finnish group that consists of Elonen Oy Leipomo, Elosen Konditoria Oy and Malviala Oy.
The Group’s total consolidated revenue was approximately EUR 41 million in 2024 (affected by the fire of the Töysä bakery) and around EUR 47 million in 2023.
The Group has approximately 250 employees across all locations.
The work involves some exposure factors. Flour dust from bakery work can expose employees to respiratory tract and skin diseases, and physical work can cause musculoskeletal problems.

Support measures to address working capacity problems

Elonen has been carefully developing its quality management for years. The Group uses the certified food safety management system FSSC 22000 to ensure sustainable and efficient food safety management. Cleanliness, safety and healthiness of the work environment are part of food safety.

Although Elonen has made determined efforts to improve comprehensive ergonomics at work, the nature of certain bakery, café and restaurant jobs put employees at the risk of developing musculoskeletal problems, among other conditions. Even though special attention has been paid to maintaining a healthy and safe work environment, the ingredients used in bakeries can cause allergies, respiratory tract symptoms and even occupational diseases in the long run.

– The first step in preventive occupational healthcare is to conduct an initial survey to identify exposure factors. The health history of every new employee is reviewed to identify and avoid potential work-related risks, says Marianne Koskinen, Elonen’s Designated Occupational Nurse at Pihlajalinna.

Preventive occupational healthcare has improved the occupational well-being of Elonen’s employees significantly. The Group’s sickness absence rate has been reduced and the return to work has been made easier by various support measures, including job rotation, modified working hours and light-duty work.

Elonen and Pihlajalinna:

The number of prolonged sickness absences has dropped – employees have returned to working life successfully thanks to modified work arrangements.
The accident rate has remained extremely low – Elonen has clear instructions for safety at work and serious accidents have been completely avoided.
Early identification of musculoskeletal problems and occupational physiotherapist’s support have reduced the physical stress of work and prevented occupational symptoms.

Occupational health action plan adjusted according to employee needs

Elonen has access to comprehensive occupational healthcare, which covers both preventive occupational healthcare and medical care services. Pihlajalinna’s occupational health team consists of an occupational health physician, occupational health nurse, occupational physiotherapist, and occupational psychologist. At Pihlajalinna, the designated occupational health nurse and the account manager are responsible for coordinating the occupational health care cooperation with Elonen.

– The occupational health service content is reviewed regularly, and additional services are introduced as necessary. For example, ergonomics counselling has had a positive impact on work performance, says Kivimäki.

– A diverse and multi-cultural work community has needs that must be addressed through working capacity management. Through our occupational health care cooperation, we strive to actively identify and support different ways of working and needs, Kivimäki and Koskinen sum up the cooperation.

To prepare for the future, Elonen and Pihlajalinna have discussed adding the Mielen huoli line to Elonen’s service package.