Employment Office / TE Toimisto Treatment of Foreigners

[African Girl]

My goodness, it seems that some people feel that I have something against Finns or their language. On the contrary, I have had very many good experiences in Finland and I live and have worked here and have a Finnish husband. I have tried, so far, to learn the language but I'm still unable to express myself. My main point was about the TE office and the rude staff there. Perhaps I believed their rude treatment was because I was a foreigner. And perhaps I assumed wrongly; it seems they are rude to everyone. But I do not believe I have an attitude against Finns and that I need to get kicked from this forum. I am quite honestly astonished. I thought this was a place where everybody could express their views openly. Yes, I completely understand that I am in Finland and they speak Finnish here. Unfortunately I don't (yet) and would need help in English, or drag my Finnish hubby to the TE which he doesn't have time or patience for... If the other person on the line does not wish to speak to me in English for some or other reason, he or she could rather hand the phone to somebody else, for example. I'm just surprised at the attacking antagonistic attitude here.

[raskarhu]

In case of trade we do speak anything, i personally have used "sign language" and written numbers with russian but that doesnt mean i would or will speak english if someone is asking handouts

C'mon Onkko, she is not asking for handouts, she is asking for a service, in the frist place, and secondly, she is looking for a new job, not hand-outs, and even if she was to apply for unemployment benefits or other social benefits after having contributed for at least 3 years ( as I can understand from her post), then that would be fully justified wouldn't it?

As for speaking English to a civil servant (or what are these TE boys and girls) in Finland, I do agree it may encourage the man on the other side of the line/ desk if you first come forward in Finnish and then make clear that your Finnish is not sufficient to have a decent conversation. it would definitely break the ice, I can tell from my own experience (my Finnish is ok, I can have a conversation , but only to a certain extent). It is Finland after all. Because, maybe you think English is the world language, well go tell that to the Frenchies... or Italians, Spaniards, Russians...

Good luck in finding a job.

Raskarhu

[Pursuivant]

The TE-keskus places switced to this "brilliant" system of all appointments by phone only. And despite you nowadays reportedly need to ink in "9-17 unemployed" in the blue card, the call centres apparently ate a "black hole" in many places.

And no, in the 90's it was called "unemployment office" as well, as you never found a job there, only unemployeds.

[cors187]

Everyone whose been here long enough knows that Finnish language is just the "right kind of barrier" we all need .Hah
Cutting down the competition legally in a modern world. THis practice must continue.

[browndude]

In my past dealings with the TE office, I have always spoken in Finnish and even though I am obviously foreign, I have not had too much to complain about. The issue at hand is that they are swamped at the moment so it may not always be our foreignness that causes their impolite behavior.

[aguy]

English is widely considered to be the lingua franca around the world. Most, if not all, Finns learn at least some English starting at primary school

With that attitude you would get your ass kicked in 10secs here.
YOU want to communicate with us.
YOU want something.
WE in here speak finnish, its your problem with to make yourself understandable.

In case of trade we do speak anything, i personally have used "sign language" and written numbers with russian but that doesnt mean i would or will speak english if someone is asking handouts.

@African Girl: you might have found someone that had a bad day or maybe he/she doesn't speak english good enough and then they hang up! If I will ever work in such position where I have to answer phone calls and someone will speak to me a language I don't understand like russian or chinese I will hang-up on them too! What should I do? Scream inside the company: "Does anybody speak russian in here?" I know that is not your case, and you were speaking english which is widely used around the world but still English is not the official language of this country, and NOT everybody in here speak English. That's fact! So you might have had contact with some old/grumpy person that doesn't speak english and he/she hag-up on you or gave you wrong information! We are all humans and we make mistakes. Try to solve the problem by walking to the TE office and get a real person that speak english to solve your case. You cannot make people on this country speak english. It's not their language!

I don't agree the treatment you got but I also support the TE people. If they don't speak english is your problem to make yourself understood! As you have a finnish husband he can call for your and help or come with you to the TE office! Try to solve your problem rather then criticize someone that doesn't speak your language.

As Onkko said: we are here in this country and we want something therefore is our problem to learn finnish to communicate with the locals because you cannot always use english everywhere just because the english language is so widely spoken around the world in business environments!

I also had similar issues and my girlfriend helped me a lot because she's finnish! So I will suggest you do the same. Ask your husband to help!

[browndude]

I obviously don't know the details of your situation. But, if you have a Finnish husband and you intend to remain in Finland in the long run, I can give you this piece of advice. Take some time and learn to speak Finnish at least to B2 level. While some Finns do speak English, many do not. I guarantee you that it will make your social as well your work life a lot, lot easier. Since you are currently partly unemployed, I would strongly advice you to spend some of the time that you have improving your Finnish language skills.

[Upphew]

Try to solve the problem by walking to the TE office and get a real person that speak english to solve your case.

I'm not sure they allow people just to walz in anymore. You get appointment by phone or e-service, not by showing up.

[kaveribrother]

when you call such customer services and the person on the other end introduces him/herself even, after a long wait write down their name and confirm their name to them. With TE office make their/you job easy by entering all your details/situation onto their website or CV Netti with your bank codes and then after go straight to KELA website and fill the details that you have informed TE of your issues. Tell TE to contact you via email or post only if your phone has issues.

One thing to note is that every govenment office has a period within which they should reply or solve your issue once and for all. incase they do not its because you need to attatch more documents or explain further nothing to do with being a foreigner or what not.

If you had written names of the rude persons on your phone conversations, you have a right to decline them handling your case. you can even report them. PS: RECORD ALL PHONE CALLS ALWAYS WHEN DEALING WITH VIRANOMAISIA

[snorlonikins]

You are getting much better service than Finns trying to deal with Employment Office using Luba-Lulua.

What would the service be like in England using Finnish? Probably you would be told to learn English or get out.

The problem with Finns and other Nordic countries is that they are too nice to the detriment of their own well-being.

The 'service' in England is disgusting! In the 'JobCentre' I went to, there are security guards on the door, you can't take anyone in with you. You're treated like scum, spoken to as if you're an imbecile. It probably helps if you DON'T speak English. Many of the 'advisors'(ha!) are not English, British - yes.

I must admit that I have had positive experiences with TE in Nummela/Lohja. I was amazed at how quiet the offices were. The two ladies that I saw were courteous and polite and spoke English, although I did have my better half with me.

[Honest]

http://yle.fi/uutiset/wednesdays_papers ... ku/7488659

[cors187]

I went in the TE office yesterday, there was noone but me , although i wasnt a customer.
Ive been in the tikkurilla one atleast 3 times and most of the time there is 1 or 2 random immigrant kids running around with parant/s somewhere(waiting etc)
Those workers have nothing to look forward to0.
I expect the phone service is even more distant.