The ABCs for a Starting Entrepreneur. Silja Soon

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      Introduction

      Congratulations on the decision to become an entrepreneur! According to an old hand, entrepreneurship is a lifestyle. However, keep in mind that it requires a change of mentality – an entrepreneur is not simply their own boss, but is also responsible for their employees.

      The World Health Organization has defined health as a state of mental, physical and social welfare. Thus, an employer is responsible for the welfare of their employees and must offer them the opportunity to engage in appropriate and pleasant work, guarantee their income and maintain a work environment that is as healthy as possible.

      Like the saying “You get what you give,” motivated and committed employees have an immense positive effect on the competitiveness of a fresh company. Well-organized occupational health and work safety encourages an increase in productivity, lowers costs and risks, creates competition among suppliers and partners, and raises the company’s reputation in the eyes of investors, clients, potential employees and society.

      This publication gives you some pointers and suggestions on how to achieve a good working environment and how to organize employment relationships (e.g., what to consider when concluding an employment contract or planning vacations).

      Good luck!

      The Labour Inspectorate

      What Does the Labour Inspectorate Do?

      According to § 29 of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, working conditions are controlled by the state. This means that the state is responsible for carrying out the supervision of working conditions, which is the responsibility of the Labour Inspectorate. In addition to these supervision activities, the Labour Inspectorate helps employers to understand the importance of managing the work environment and guide them in creating safer and healthier working conditions and valid employment relationships. The mission of the Labour Inspectorate is to provide security in professional relationships.

      Governmental Supervision

      Governmental supervision is carried out by labour inspectors who check the occupational health care and work safety conditions in companies. Labour inspectors and lawyers keep a close eye on employment relationships.

      To carry out supervision, the inspector agrees on a suitable visiting time with the company manager and clarifies the purpose of the visit. In general, regular supervision is carried out which, contrary to widespread belief, is not the result of a complaint. Sometimes labour inspectors also make cold calls to carry out follow-up supervision or to check up on a complaint and gather related information.

      Supervision is undertaken with a company’s representative and, if possible, the working environment representative or a representative of the employees. Results shall be recorded in a report. If the inspector detects violations that the employer has not corrected in five working days, the inspector issues a precept determining the rectification deadlines. In the case that the violation is extremely severe (compromising life or health), a precept is immediately issued prohibiting the hazardous work or the use of the dangerous equipment. In the case of severe violations, a misdemeanour procedure and fine can follow.

      When carrying out supervision activities, the inspector is always prepared to counsel the company on how to improve employment relationships or the working environment.

      Settlement of Labour Disputes

      Labour dispute committees are present at the Labour Inspectorate, solving disputes between the employee and employer free of charge.

      A labour dispute case is reviewed within one month of the application filing date. The decisions by the labour dispute committees are mandatory, just like court orders.

      The labour dispute committees consist of the chairman of the labour dispute committee (as the representative of the state) and employee and employer representatives appointed by the managing bodies of the central associations. The three participants hear the disputing parties and pass a decision. If the parties disagree with the solution, they can have recourse to the county court.

      Awareness-Raising

      The awareness-raising activities of the Labour Inspectorate include counselling, organizing information days and other training activities, collecting and sharing the best work environment practices, and information sharing via different electronic channels.

      AWARENESS-RAISING BY THE LABOUR INSPECTORATE

      Counselling

      The Labour Inspectorate can be contacted for advice via the following channels:

      • The lawyer infoline 640 6000 operates on workdays between 9:00–16:30. This number is answered by Labour Inspectorate lawyers who can explain the Republic of Estonia Employment Contracts Act and answer related questions. If the question concerns the organization of work safety and occupational health care, the lawyer can share the phone number of the Labour Inspectorate specialist in the corresponding matter.

      • Questions concerning employment relationships are welcome to be sent to the lawyers’ email address at [email protected] or the general email of the Labour Inspectorate at [email protected].

      • You can also visit the labour inspectors and lawyers in person in all Labour Inspectorate offices across Estonia.

      Consultations

      The Labour Inspectorate affords employers the opportunity to invite a work environment consultant to their company. The consultations are aimed at improving occupational health care and work safety in the company, not to look for breaches. The aim is to help employers find solutions to prevent employee health damage and preserve their ability to work.

      The consultant visits the work environment accompanied by the company’s representatives, examines the company’s documentation on the work environment and gives suggestions for improving the work environment, and/or updating the documentation.

      In general, the employer is given some time after the consultation to execute the consultant’s suggestions, and inspectors will not check up on the company during that time period.

      The consultation service is free of charge to the company, and the consultant’s visit can be arranged by sending a corresponding email to [email protected].

      Information Days and Training Activities

      The Labour Inspectorate holds information days across Estonia, clarifying issues vital to working life. All information days and other training activities (e.g. lectures at trade fairs) are free of charge to participants. The Labour Inspectorate warmly welcomes working environment specialists, working environment representatives, company managers and others interested in work environment topics to such informative events.

      Electronic Channels

      Electronic channels of the Labour Inspectorate:

      • The Labour Inspectorate website www.ti.ee has information about the Inspectorate’s activities. The contact information of the local Labour Inspectorate offices, application forms and everything else necessary to simplify the work of employers and work environment specialists regarding work environment management is available here.

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