Turning Work Ability into a Game – Osuuskauppa KPO’s Way to Strengthen Everyday Wellbeing

Work Ability Game engaged the whole organization
KPO operates in five regions and is one of the largest employers in its area with over 2000 employees. The personnel is diverse: young people under 25, more experienced employees, and over 30 different nationalities. Managing work ability is therefore a critical issue in many ways.

In 2023, KPO identified together with the occupational pension insurance company that a key risk was the competence and consistency of supervisors’ work ability management. The goal was set to develop work ability management and strengthen supervisors’ skills. Later in the project it was decided to develop additional questions to engage also all employees around work ability themes. The chosen solution was a tailored work ability game created with Muutostaito.

The game process was launched with workshop sessions involving representatives from different levels of the organization. This ensured that the game supports KPO’s strategy and values and genuinely meets the needs of the personnel. In the autumn, supervisors played the first work ability games at management days, and during spring 2024 the game is to be rolled out across the entire organization.

How was the game implemented?
The work ability game includes two dimensions:
• Questions on work ability management aimed at supervisors (e.g. early intervention, silent signals, practical tools for everyday leadership).
• Questions supporting employees’ workplace wellbeing (e.g. good collegiality, diversity as a strength, self-leadership).

The game is based on discussion and joint reflection. Each participant selects their own view from the options, and teams discuss together what these mean in their own everyday work. At the end, everyone makes a personal work ability promise – a small action that supports their own and the community’s wellbeing.

Experiences and impacts
Supervisors were surprised by how openly the staff talked and how deeply topics were explored. The promises led to concrete actions, such as:

• “I observe and pay attention to deviations related to my team members’ work ability in everyday life more actively.”
• “I pay attention to work ability issues already during the recruitment phase.”
• “I take better care of my own work ability.”

With the help of the game:

• Skills for addressing difficult topics were strengthened
• Consistent practices for managing work ability were created
• A positive culture of discussion was brought into work units

Miia Pöppönen, Work Ability Specialist, Osuuskauppa KPO:
“This process truly made work ability everyone’s business. With the game, we’ve brought wellbeing discussions into everyday life.”

 

Further information about the project

Osuuskauppa KPO
Leif Lindberg
HR Director
+358 40 510 3885

Miia Pöppönen
Work Ability Specialist
+358 40 518 1188

Starting points of the cooperation

Goal:
• Strengthen supervisors’ competence in managing work ability
• Bring workplace wellbeing genuinely into everyday work and reduce identified risks
• Create a consistent, inclusive way to address work ability topics

Solution:
• A KPO-tailored work ability game in collaboration with Muutostaito
• Customized questions for supervisors and employees
• Game facilitation first at supervisor days, then in local units

What was done?
✅ Workshop collaboration with representatives from different levels to build the game content
✅ The game was tied to KPO’s values and work ability strategy
✅ First gameplay at supervisor days – over 200 supervisors participated
✅ Facilitator training for supervisors and support from HR
✅ Organization-wide game rollout during spring 2024
✅ Each participant made a personal work ability promise

Why was it worth addressing work ability through a game?
✅ Content. Customized questions directly addressed KPO’s work ability challenges and everyday actions
✅ Concept. The game created a safe and inclusive discussion forum for all
✅ Gamification. Enthusiasm, competitive spirit, and shared insights increased engagement

“We were surprised by how multidimensional the discussions became and how everyone left with something concrete for their daily work. The game won’t be left to gather dust – we will also use it in onboarding and in debrief sessions after wellbeing surveys.”      –Miia Pöppönen, Work Ability Specialist

Results
✅ The first 200 supervisors have played and been trained as facilitators
✅ Every participant has made a personal work ability promise
✅ Discussion culture has been strengthened across different units
✅ The game has been incorporated into onboarding and the follow-up work of wellbeing surveys

 

HR Director Leif Lindberg sees the game’s significance broadly:
“The work ability game provided us with a tool to create a shared language and approach for work ability matters. This has been a significant step in supporting everyday workplace wellbeing.”