Join Tehy as a student

When you join Tehy, you must provide information such as what kind of education you have and where you work. You also need to provide your email address and mobile phone number. We need this information in order to give you a membership number. This process will take about three days. Once you have received your membership number, you can log in to the e-services for members on the Tehy website.

Your membership starts as soon as you join.

All trained professionals and students in the social care, healthcare, early childhood education and care, and rehabilitation sectors can join Tehy. 

You are a full-time student if you earn an average of at least 4.5 credits per month of studies or study for at least 25 hours a week. This does not include time spent on homework or other studies in your free time. 

If you are not a full-time student, you can join Tehy as a full member during your studies. In that case, you will pay the normal membership fee of 1.1% of your income. 

Towards the end of your studies or immediately after your graduation, inform Tehy that you are no longer a student member and that you are joining Tehy as a full member. Tehy does not receive information about your studies and will not make this change automatically. Because of this, you will have to take care of this matter yourself. 

When you want to become a full member, you will need to fill in a new membership form. Become a full member of Tehy. 

You can join the Sotekassa unemployment fund and the relevant professional partnership organisation at the same time. 

Read more about Sotekassa and Tehy’s partnerships organisations. 

If you are studying for a degree or qualification in a field that Tehy represents and are working at the same time, you should join both Tehy and the Sotekassa unemployment fund. You can join the fund even if your job is not in a field that Tehy represents. Select ‘I am joining an unemployment fund’ on the Tehy membership form.  

Read more about Sotekassa. 

Tehy’s student association is the largest of its kind in the field of social care, healthcare, and early childhood education and care. We organise a wide range of activities. The association works to ensure that students’ perspective is taken into account in their studies and working life. We cooperate a lot with organisations such as Tehy, STTK-Students and other student organisations. 

Chairperson of Tehy’s student association: Miro-Matias Wright, [email protected]

We offer you insurance cover that protects you during your leisure time and that you need for traineeships and work in the sector. Your employer’s insurance does not cover all types of accidents that can happen at work or during a traineeship. Read more about insurance cover for Tehy members. The page is not available in English.

Anyone can face a dispute or disagreement at work and need support. For example, your employer may terminate your employment relationship, meaning fire you, illegally. If the dispute has to be settled in court, Tehy will pay all of the member’s legal expenses. Read more about legal aid. 

Are you wondering whether you received the correct amount of pay? Or how your work shifts should be arranged? Have you been dismissed, or fired, from your job without a good reason? We can help you with all matters related to your employment relationship.

First look into the matter at your workplace. Tehy union representatives are available in the workplace for you. You can ask them about matters to do with your employment or pay, for example. They know the terms and conditions of employment and the practices at the workplace. You can also contact our specialists. 

For example, Tehy can help you in the following situations:

• You do not understand your contract or you would like someone to check it.
• You want to know what the right pay level is for your role.
• You want to check whether your bonuses or salary calculation is correct.
• You want to know about the regulations governing working life in Finland.
• You are experiencing discrimination or racism at work.
• You want to know about shifts or annual holiday.

In Finland, authorities also have duties relating to working life. For example, Tehy cannot help with finding a job, as this is the role of the TE services.

Participate in instruction, training days, and seminars. These will teach you new skills that you need at work. Our training courses are usually free for our members. For some of your studies, you can apply for a grant from us. 

• Read more about Tehy’s grants. The page is not available in English.
• See the events and training calendar. The calendar is not available in English.

We organise a big event for our members at least once a year. We also organise other fun events.

We organise events in different parts of Finland. Your own local branch also organises activities for its members. Read more about Tehy’s local branches. The page is not available in plain English.

A Tehy local branch brings together members of Tehy who work for the same employer or in the same area. At events organised by your local branch, you can meet other students and professionals in the same field and take part in important activities.

Tehy has various divisions and networks through which you can make a difference in your field. You will also meet others who work in your field. Tehy’s partnership organisations can help you develop your professional skills and receive further training. Read more about our partnership organisations. 

As a member of Tehy, you will receive current information about working life and your field. Tehy can provide you with information on the terms and conditions of employment, pay, the law, and other things you need to know when you start work.

All Tehy members want to improve working conditions, and social care and healthcare services. The more members we have, the more influence we can have. 

The Tehy Council makes the most important decisions for Tehy. The Council is elected every four years. Student members can also vote or stand as candidates in Council elections. This is rare for a trade union!

• The Tehy magazine, delivered to your home.
• Discounts on healthcare and sports services.
• Discounts on holidays at Holiday Club resorts in Finland and abroad.
• Discounts at hotels, for example.
• See all the member benefits. The page is not available in English.