Finnish Union Probes Cafe Over Allegations of Humiliation and Poor Working Conditions

A Finnish labor union is scrutinizing a cafe named Cajsan Helmi following serious allegations of mistreatment and poor working conditions. Marja Salmivuori, a resolution manager at the Service Union United PAM, described the situation as "quite something" after the newspaper HS reported on the cafe's practices.

Eleven former employees, all young women who worked at the cafe between 2024 and 2026, have come forward. They reported experiencing humiliation, being called names, having their health information revealed, and facing discrimination due to pregnancy. Issues with salary payments and employment contracts were also cited, alongside poor hygiene in the cafe and kitchen areas where the owner's dogs reportedly defecated.

Salmivuori emphasized that employees should never face such treatment. "Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the employer has an obligation to take action to eliminate inappropriate conduct," she stated. The cafe's owner, Airi Kallio, dismissed the claims to HS as "hearsay," despite the eleven employees reporting similar experiences.

PAM is advising employees on how to handle such situations. The first step is to inform the person responsible and ask them to stop. If the behavior continues, employees should document incidents as evidence. For workplaces with over ten employees, a health and safety representative and a shop steward should be elected to address workplace safety issues. Employees who are union members can authorize their union to handle the matter, addressing breaches of collective agreements and providing guidance on inappropriate conduct.

If the employer is part of an employers' association, they can contact it for guidance. PAM has not received direct contact from Cajsan Helmi employees but encourages them to join the union. The union also plans outreach to Cajsan Helmi to inform employees about their rights. Ultimately, employees can contact regional administrative authorities, which act as occupational safety and health authorities, to report violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. These authorities do not resolve individual disputes but ensure employers comply with the law. They can conduct inspections, issue orders for correction, and impose fines for non-compliance.