Is occupational healthcare mandatory in Finland — your first employee

Editorial update 26.10.2026

Yes: an employer must arrange preventive occupational healthcare (Finnish: työterveyshuolto) even for one employee. General medical care is optional. Office work, a small headcount or remote work does not remove the requirement to arrange preventive care.

What does the employer arrange?

The content of occupational healthcare is based on the needs of the work and working conditions. A written agreement, workplace assessment (työpaikkaselvitys) and action plan (toimintasuunnitelma) form the basis of the arrangement. Health examinations and other activity are planned with occupational healthcare according to need; an automatic initial examination is not promised to everyone.

Kela's guidance on reimbursable care, updated 21 October 2026, distinguishes mandatory prevention from optional medical care. Kela is Finland's Social Insurance Institution. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides employers with guidance on arranging care.

First-employee checklist

1. Describe the employee's work, working locations and any exposure or workload factors.
2. Select preventive care suited to the work's needs. Decide separately on optional medical care.
3. Agree a written occupational-health agreement and practical start arrangements in good time relative to the start of employment.
4. Arrange a workplace assessment and an action plan based on it with the provider.
5. Give the employee booking and service instructions and explain the agreed service boundaries.

The printable setup checklist helps assign responsibilities and dates. It does not replace a professional assessment or plan.

An entrepreneur and an employee are not the same thing

An entrepreneur's own occupational healthcare is a separate voluntary arrangement. When the company hires an employee, the employer's obligation applies to that employee's occupational healthcare. Part-time or fixed-term employment does not in itself remove the obligation. If a person's employment status is unclear, establish it appropriately rather than inferring it from the way they invoice.

What does the service cost?

Minimum is StartHealth's preventive package without medical care. The pricing page shows current gross figures and the billable-headcount rules. The offer confirms work-related needs and any extra costs. Kela does not refund the same fixed share of an entire package; the Kela guide explains eligible costs and the 2025 ceilings. The Finnish terms korvausluokka I/II mean reimbursement category I for preventive care and category II for medical care; they do not define a single package refund rate.

If the arrangement is missing after employment has started

Contact a provider and resolve the arrangements without delay. Do not interpret the absence of an agreement as an approved waiting period. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration supervises the obligation to arrange care; this guide does not determine a fine or a legal decision in an individual case.

StartHealth typically starts in 1–7 days depending on the kickoff meeting date. This service-start estimate is not an exception to the employer's obligation. Request a quote and read the agreement guide (Finnish).

Next step for service and budget

Compare services · View gross prices · Request an employer quote.

Sources and currency

• Kela — arranging occupational healthcare.
• Kela — reimbursable occupational healthcare, source updated 21 October 2026.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration — arranging occupational healthcare.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration — workplace assessment.

Official sources checked 26 October 2026. Service descriptions are based on StartHealth's confirmed package information; the offer confirms boundaries and costs. Editorially updated content awaits clinical review. This is a faithful English equivalent of the current Finnish mandatory-care guide, with Finnish terms explained once.