Reetta Ripatti-Jokela, Head of Workplace Solutions

Changing workplaces

Reetta Ripatti-Jokela, who leads the workplace unit, assists clients who need support in designing and implementing comprehensive changes to their workplaces and in the process of change management and adopting new ways of working.

What does your job involve?

At Senate Properties, I lead a nationwide workplace unit currently consisting of around a dozen leading specialists in workplace development, change management and knowledge work.

We implement activity-based environments for our customers according to the Government Premises Strategy. These include new types of space solutions as well as new ways of working. It is not just a question of making changes to premises but rather the comprehensive development of the operating culture. And to top it all off, clients also make savings in their premises costs: less space is needed in activity-based environments as the space is used more efficiently.

A common starting point in workplace change projects is the rationalisation, modernisation and intensification of the use of space. Clients often transfer the use of some of their premises to other organisations as they no longer need them. Organisations also merge, which means that operations are combined, and it is necessary to rethink space issues and ways of working.

We provide our customers with comprehensive support – from beginning to end – when they make changes to their workplaces. We work with them to produce a work environment concept that supports the organisation’s strategy and operations, we support the management in the smooth implementation of the change in operating culture and we help to introduce new ways of working. We also carry out measurements of the efficiency of knowledge work, which we use to help organisations to develop their operations.

What are the targets of your team’s work?

Our basic message is that the work environment should be seen as a strategic resource and an active part of management. This will ensure that it supports the targets and processes of the core operations.

Management of a productive workplace requires the cooperation of solid expertise and the organisation’s support functions. In other words, the following functions – real estate administration, HR management and data administration as well as communications, finances and corporate social responsibility – need to be included in workplace management.

What opportunities does the future offer your work?

The operating environment is changing all the time and there seems to be no end in sight for the development of knowledge work and workplaces. Therefore, an attitude that is open to change and flexibility are key prerequisites when developing sustainable models of working and workplace solutions that support them. We are only just starting to understand the possibilities of digitalisation and the extent of the change.

The breaking down of silos, hub-type work environments and the concept of co-working are all becoming more common. This forms the foundation for Sesam, Senate’s activity-based environment for co-working in the Sörnäinen district in Helsinki. All government employees can go and work there. In the future in state administration it will be possible to open co-working premises all over the country and thus smooth the cooperation between the employees in different organisations and boost networking.

Three principles that guide your work?

A good work environment is not just a space, it has physical, virtual, social and temporal dimensions. These must all be considered.
Nothing must be left to chance. Implementation of workplace change must be made as easy and smooth as possible for our customers. We provide them with all our support here.
We have launched a smart work concept at Senate, which we want to use to promote new ways of working in all the government’s work environments. The concept is based on a multi-locational activity-based environment where digitalisation ensures that work progresses smoothly. The concept’s sub-areas include prioritisation and arrangement of work, communication, cooperation, learning and wellbeing.

CV

Education: Architect

Previous employers: Senior consultant in work environment development at Evata Finland Oy and the Pöyry Group

Projects and working groups: Involved in establishing the state administration’s Työ 2.0 project and has participated in numerous workplace research, development and cooperation projects in Finland and abroad

Our specialists

Riikka Manninen, Workplace Adviser

Thinking about the future is an integral part of my job, as work environment solutions are intended to be functional for decades. For this reason, our projects combine comparing various options with predicting the effects of technological development and seeking solutions linked to mitigating climate change. In addition to customer projects, my work includes internal development work, such as further developing Senate’s Sesam into an even better co-working space.

Anne Sundqvist, Specialist, National Facility and Workplace Concepts

The development of work environments always focuses on people. In cooperation with a multidisciplinary network of partners, I produce customer-focused and activity-based concepts for the central government, with the goal of renewing the customer’s operations and facilities. The key aspects of my work include comprehensive examination and design thinking, as well as making use of data. The most important aspect is to develop concepts based on the needs of the users of the service or facility. I’m responsible for ensuring that the people related to the change can participate in the development work in many ways and that they are heard.

Anne Korpi, Specialist, Indoor Climate

Indoor conditions at the workplace are likely to be appropriate if they require no attention. However, the users of our facilities report cold indoor temperatures in the winter, draughts caused by air conditioning and stuffy indoor air. In my work, I develop practices and measures to ensure good indoor air quality and the effective management of indoor conditions at government workplaces, to create pleasant work environments that promote health. In practice, this means producing instructions, models and guidelines, to name just a few examples.

Esa Halmetoja, Specialist, Maintenance Digitalisation

I usually describe myself as an electrician through and through. I started working as an electrician on building sites when I was 18. After working for various employers and gaining further qualifications, I ended up working as a specialist developing smart workplaces at Senate Properties. I’m a determined and curious person. Fortunately, in my current job, I have plenty to study and experiment with. In fact, challenges are my passion and finding a solution to a problem is the best reward.

Selja Flink, Construction Project Manager

Even as a child I was fascinated by old buildings. They oozed history and beauty that you can’t see in new buildings. That is why I have spent practically all my career as an architect working on historical buildings. For the past ten years I have specialised in a combination of fields that is quite rare in Finland: restoration and construction contracting. Accessibility became an important feature when I was in charge of castles and museums, as I believe that everyone must have equal access to buildings that are maintained by the taxpayer.

Pertti Siekkinen, Specialist, Change Management

My goal is to create comfortable work environments of tomorrow that boost productivity. I cooperate closely with our customer companies’ management and employees. In modifying a work environment, the major change usually only begins once people move to the new facilities. This requires interaction between people: discussion is important. A work environment consists of many aspects. When facilities are modified, the importance of digital solutions and new ways of working cannot be stressed enough.

Heljä Franssila, Specialist, Knowledge Work

This is my calling: increasing the potential of knowledge work organisations and various personnel groups for making an impact. My mission is to enable productive and effective work in the central government – every day of the year! My primary job is to offer methods and procedures for both individual and communal knowledge work and anchor them in the daily work of our clients. At Senate Properties, I am responsible for knowledge work performance measurement and development services in the Work environments unit. I am also involved in the implementation of work environment development and change management services.

Show all