Via as a workplace
Via emphasises the education, training and quality of work of its employees; it offers a clear work organisation structure and provides preconditions for continuous development. Everyone is expected to develop their work autonomously. Straightforwardness and openness are keywords in our human resources strategy.
Collective agreement
Most of Via’s employees are members of the Finnish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SVT) which joined the Finnish Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals (Akava) on 1st May 2006. Via’s company-specific collective agreement was signed with the Federation of Special Service and Clerical Employees (ERTO) and it is to run from 16th February 2005 to 30th September 2007. This agreement will still be adhered to despite the SVT leaving ERTO and joining Akava Special Branches. All terms and conditions of work are regulated in individual employment contracts and in the collective agreement. Via abides by law and best practises in all employment contract issues. The company-specific collective agreement was reviewed on 1st February 2006.
Teams
Both interpreter teams and the office team come together for team meetings every three weeks. Team meetings are a natural way to discuss customer feedback and development needs, information and everyday exchange of ideas. At Via, interpreters often have very varying job descriptions and almost all interpreters participate in job rotation or alternation schemes. Thanks to the team organisation, preparation for assignments, reporting working hours and recuperation of individual interpreters is possible without it affecting the availability and quality of services. A lot of the decision-making powers and responsibilities have been delegated to teams and various development projects are also part of the teams’ work. The promotion of employee working preconditions is emphasised by regular development discussions and special team events, among other things. There is even a special budget for team recreation events to brighten the routine of working days.
Development
Every Via employee is entitled to 4 to 5 working days per year for personal development. Special development events, projects and feedback provided by a native signer are an integral part of Via’s operations. A secure employer respects the employees’ right to trade union activities and supports shop steward operations within the workplace.
Term bank
Via’s employees and customers alike have access to a sign language term bank. The interactive tool requires a good command of Finnish sign language.
The term bank is not a dictionary, but a collection of signs used as part of interpreting assignments and their Finnish language definitions as well as details of sources. The term bank is a neutral recording of signs used and it does not show any preferences or recommendations. The term bank already contains thousands of signs. Terms are being collected by Via’s interpreters and customers all over Finland.