The Finnish labor legislation – an introduction part 8
General collective agreement for universities
— the 1600-hour-rule
In this article, I continue
to discuss “the 1600-hour-rule”, specifically from
the point of view of the early stage researchers.
The work plan for
the Early-Stage Researchers
If the main function of an Early-Stage Researcher
is to work on their PhD and pursue further studies,
then participation in teaching work and
other duties that may be included in the work
plan must be calculated so that they enable the
completion of the thesis within the planned
timetable. This is sometimes very problematic, if
the Early-Stage Researcher is for example working
in a project and so doing a lot of work beside
their actual PhD. It is clear that if the majority of
the work that the Early-Stage Researcher is doing
is outside their PhD work, the employment
contract should not be made for a fixed-term in
relation to the PhD. The employer should not use
the PhD status as a false premise for hiring a researcher
on a fixed-term contract.
It is recommended in the collective agreement
that no more than 5% of the annual working time
of the Early-Stage Researchers is used for teaching.
Also, the teaching they do, should be relevant
to their own field of research, whenever possible.
Teaching not agreed upon in the work plan
(all teachers and researchers)
If an employee has consented to do more teaching
assigned by the unit than was originally
agreed upon in the work plan, then special compensation
must be paid for this work. The basic
hourly salary rate for this separate compensation
will be derived by dividing the annual salary of
the employee by 1,600. Universities may limit
the amount of teaching that is not specified in the work plan.
So far, I have written a series of articles in the
preceding 7 Acatiimi-magazines. I started with an
introduction to the Finnish labor law, then wrote
about the Employment Contracts Act (parts 1 and
2), about the Working Hours Act, Annual Holiday
Act and Occupational Safety And Health Act,
and about working on a grant/scholarship. Now,
I have written two articles about the 1600-hour-rule
in General Collective Agreement for the universities.
Next time, I will discuss the Act on Equality
between Women and Men and the Non-Discrimination
Act, as well as the upcoming changes in
these laws.
For further information please visit: www.sivistystyonantajat.fi/tiedostopankki/158/General_collective_agreement_for_universities_1_April_2014_31_January_2017.pdf
text Mia Weckman
lawyer, the Finnish union of
university researchers and teachers
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