Virpi Ruohomäki

“Discussions on post-pandemic workplaces is a relevant topic in organizations”

3rd of May 2022

Course leader presentation: Virpi Ruohomäki

Workspaces Promoting Well-being, 20th – 22nd of September 2022, Hanaholmen Conference Hotel, Helsinki area, Finland

Virpi Ruohomäki, you are the course leader for our course “Workspaces Promoting Well-being”. Can you tell us a little something about yourself?

I am working as Senior Researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. I am a psychologist from the University of Helsinki and I have a PhD in work and organizational psychology from Aalto University, Finland.

My special areas are health and well-being at work, remote work, hybrid work, multi-locational work, teamwork, participatory workplace design and workplace change management. I have strong experience in research and development projects with companies, university level teaching and media collaboration.

I am leading the transdisciplinary research project by the Academy of Finland titled “Spatial solution for environmental satisfaction, well-being and work engagement in activity based offices”, https://www.ttl.fi/en/research-and-development-projects/active-work-space/.

I am also leading research in the project called “Health and well-being in telework and multi-locational work”, https://www.ttl.fi/tutkimushanke/tyon-uudet-muodot-ja-tyokyvystahuolehtiminen-terveyskayttaytyminen-etatyossa-2020-2023/.

Why do you think that workspaces promoting well-being is an important and current issue to discuss in 2022?

Course objectives are to provide a transdisciplinary overview on workspaces promoting health and well-being of employees. The aim is to get understanding on new types of remote work and multi-locational work as well as post-pandemic office workplaces.

There is a growing interest in workplaces promoting health and well-being. Discussions on post-pandemic workplaces is a relevant topic in organizations: Where and how to work in the future? What kind of workplaces support employees’ satisfaction, well-being and performance? What is the role of remote work and hybrid work in the future?

Remote work and multi-locational work are getting more common and an increasing number of knowledge workers will work both at the office and at home. At the same time, the quality of workplace is getting more relevant. Workplaces and office design should enhance well-being and performance of employees.


What do you want to say to the participants of the course?

We have excellent keynote speakers; Prof. Matti Vartiainen from Aalto University and Prof. Rianne Appel-Meulenbroek from Eindhoven University of Technology. They will talk about the following hot topics:

  • Remote multi-locational work: prerequisites, challenges and outcomes.                      
  • Development of sustainable hybrid work.
  • Workplace design for physical, mental and social well-being at the office and at home.

We have a wonderful transdisciplinary program with new research findings and practical guidelines. We also have an interesting excursion to a modern activity-based office in Helsinki. Main topics are the following:

  • Architectural approach to spatial understanding of activity-based offices.
  • Effects of activity-based offices on well-being and productivity.
  • The role of adaptive lighting in supporting personalized well-being.
  • Acoustic design of activity-based offices.
  • Workplace change process and satisfaction with activity-based office.
  • Effects of workplace design and new ways of working on employees’ and managers’ work environment

This course brings together workplace researchers, designers and managers. Participants also have a great opportunity to present their own research or practical work and get valuable feedback.

For the participants, this course makes an excellent opportunity for meeting, learning, discussing, co-creating new ideas and networking together with a friendly feeling.

You are warmly welcome!                      

More informationCourse webpage
Registration: Course registration
Last registration date: August 25th 2022

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Course Leader Presentation