# [Support at work](https://proliitto.fi/index%2ephp/index%252ephp/en/for-members/support-at-work) If you encounter any problems at work, your local shop steward or occupational safety delegate can support you. Both of them can be found at your own workplace. Also our experts and lawyers will help you. They provide advice, negotiate agreements and at the very last instance defend you in court. Our legal aid is free of charge and carries no risks for you. ## Shop stewards solve problems at work What does a shop steward do? A shop steward represents employees, who are members of Trade Union Pro, in a given workplace and monitors that the law and agreements are followed. A shop steward is chosen by the unionized employees and represents them in different negotiations. All union members at the workplace must be allowed to know who is their shop steward. Occupational safety delegate is an expert of health and safety Occupational safety delegate is an expert of health and safety at the workplace. As a representative of personnel, they monitor that the Occupational Safety and Health Act is followed at work. Occupational safety delegate is aware of all matters related to health and safety at work and takes part in safety inspections at the workplace. Our specialists and lawyers are there for you Are you wondering how many days of holidays you will get this year or how your holiday bonus is determined? Is something in your employment contract troubling you? Do you have questions about overtime? In addition to your local shop stewards, our specialists and lawyers are there to help you. They ensure that the terms of your work are fair and follow official agreements. They give advise and solve disagreements with the employer. They also negotiate agreements with employer associations and, at the last instance, defend you in court. For you our legal aid is completely risk-free and does not cost anything\* [Contact us](/index%2ephp/en/contact-us) \* We compensate the cost of legal proceedings for our members without excess and limit even though they would amount tens of thousands of Euros and the legal proceeding would continue in higher instances. The legal aid includes legal counselling, settlement negotiations and litigation. The decision on bringing a matter to court is made by Trade Union Pro's Head of Legal Affairs. Legal aid requires that membership in Pro has been in force for at least three months prior to the incident the legal aid is applied for and that Pro's membership fees have been paid according to Trade Union Pro's rules. Litigation in court requires that the member's complaint is based on law or agreements and that the information member has provided indicates that they have most probably not been treated according to the law and agreements. ## Frequently asked questions What should the employment contract contain? The employment contract must determine all the key issues. These include at least the following: - The employer’s and employee’s name, personal identification number, and place of residence or business - Start date of employment - Applicable collective agreement - Main work tasks - Place where the work is carried out - Duration of the employment contract - Notice period - Probationary period - Working hours - Pay and pay period - Annual leave When can a fixed-term employment contract be entered into? Fixed-term employment may only be entered into if there is a valid reason for doing so. Such a reason might, for example, be to cover for another employee’s absence. Where can I get help evaluating my level of pay? Pay matters can be clarified by talking to the shop steward of the workplace or by contacting the contractual representative of the nearest Pro regional office ### More information [Contact us](/index%2ephp/en/contact-us) What if I get sick during my holiday? You have the right to postpone your annual leave from the first day of sickness if you are incapable for work at the beginning or during your annual leave due to an illness, accident or childbirth. If you fall ill during your holiday, ask your employer to postpone the holiday immediately. Provide the employer with a proper clarification of the illness or accident, such as a medical certificate. You should also check your collective agreement’s provisions related to illnesses. When is dismissal justified? The law protects you, so your employer may dismiss you on personal grounds only for a proper reason. The Employment Contracts Act includes examples of proper reasons, such as inappropriate behaviour. The employer also has grounds for dismissal if you violate your obligations as an employee. However, you must be given an opportunity to correct your behaviour by law. The Act also contains a list of prohibited grounds for dismissal. You may not be dismissed, for example, because of illness, injury or accident, trade union activities, or ideological reasons. If a dismissal takes place without a proper and acceptable reason, the employer is liable to compensate you for the unlawful dismissal. Dismissal for financial or production-related reasons requires a proper and weighty justification even after the legislative amendment of 1 January 2026. Such a reason may exist, for example, if the amount of available work decreases or ends. Before a collective dismissal, the employer must examine possibilities for reassignment and training in order to maintain the employee’s employment. Upon your request, the employer must promptly provide you with the reasons for dismissal in writing and the date of your employment’s termination. As an employee, you can resign simply by notifying your employer in writing or orally. You have no obligation to justify your resignation. What is the final pay? The final pay refers to the normal pay for the period of notice, including all normal fringe benefits for the period of notice. Unused holidays, accrued balances and overtime will also be compensated in it. The final pay must be paid into the employee’s account on the last workday, unless otherwise agreed in the employment contract. [ Work life counselling ](/en/service-contacts/work-life-counselling) Mon–Fri 9–15 Jun 15–Aug 7, Mon–Fri 9–14 [Problems at work?](https://proliitto.fi/en/problems-at-work) [09 1727 3442](tel:0917273442) [ Membership and benefits ](/en/service-contacts/membership-and-benefits) Mon–Fri 9–14 Jun 15–Aug 7, Mon–Fri 9–12 [09 1727 3440](tel:0917273440) [ Unemployment Fund Pro ](/en/service-contacts/unemployment-fund-pro) Mon–Fri 9–12 [prokassa.fi](https://www.prokassa.fi/en/the-unemployment-fund-pro-2.html) [Electronic services](https://ekassa.proliitto.fi/login) [09 1727 3444 ](tel:0917273444) What has it taken for me to become a good shop steward? Courage, self-confidence, the ability to change, empathy and negotiation skills, and certainly nerves of steel. A whole bunch of wonderful professionals that I have met in training and courses, and with whose help my professionalism as a shop steward has developed. For my part, I want to encourage those who are unsure to seize the opportunity when it comes. Päivi Pro Shop Steward When we are many, no one is left alone in working life. During a long career, there have been moments when the workplace shop stewards have been extremely important, for example during change negotiations. Their expert assistance and emotional support have helped me move forward and provided a sense of security. Teija Pro member