On 29 April 2026, the Supreme Court rejected Tehy’s application for leave to appeal concerning the payment of damages to employees of the Kätilöopisto Maternity Hospital who had fallen ill due to the poor indoor air quality at the workplace.
The Supreme Court’s decision means that the judgement issued by the Helsinki Court of Appeal in October 2025 will remain in force, and the employer, i.e. the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), will not be obliged to pay compensation to its former employees for the health problems and illness caused by the poor indoor air at Kätilöopisto Maternity Hospital.
The Court of Appeal found that there was a causal link between the conditions at the Kätilöopisto Maternity Hospital – particularly the water and microbial damage detected at the hospital – and the symptoms of the employees, but that HUS had acted diligently as an employer and had ensured the claimants’ safety at work in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Employment Contracts Act, and there were therefore no grounds for granting the claims for damages.
In December 2025, Tehy applied to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal the decision of the Helsinki Court of Appeal. A lower court, namely the Helsinki District Court, had ordered HUS to pay compensation to its former employees.
Enquiries: Tehy Head of Legal Services Kari Tiainen, [email protected], tel. +358 40 500 0430.
Previous bulletins on this topic:
Tehy brings the Kätilöopisto Maternity Hospital damages case to the Supreme Court
Enquiries: Tehy Head of Legal Services Kari Tiainen, [email protected], tel. +358 40 500 0430.