Tag: Vastuullisuus

HUSKAINABILITY – SAFETY & EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING

Posted on by huskypark

Welcome to Husky Park’s blog! We’re on the right track. We’ve decided to do our part, and focus on building a sustainable and responsible business. We’re already seeing the change on our winters and WE cannot just spectate. It’s a long journey, but we’ll make it, together! For us, employees safety & well-being is important. Today, we check how good care we take of our employees!

Safety

Safety is very important at Husky Park, and we are continuously developing our operations in this regard. We operate under the Consumer Safety Act and have separate safety plans for both the winter season and the snow-free season. As part of their orientation, employees are required to read the safety plan and its annexes and confirm they have done so by signing a tracking list. All employees receive Emergency First Aid training, and starting from 2024, safety training regarding Husky Park operations. These will be provided every autumn to ensure that first aid skills remain up to date and that safety considerations are integrated into daily work. The safety training covers common risk situations, accidents, and hazards that may occur during work and activities, how to prevent them, and how to respond when they arise. Fire safety at Husky Park is also addressed in the safety training. Any accidents or near-miss incidents are always documented, and measures are taken to assess how to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Additionally, at the end of each season, we review incidents to improve safety for the next season by developing both our operations and the area.

All employees, trainees, and volunteers are covered by insurance through the Turva insurance company, and the validity and coverage of these insurances are reviewed annually. We ensure workplace safety through orientation and active intervention, which we encourage among our employees. Health and safety are secured by designating areas for specific activities (e.g., dog care facilities, staff areas, customer areas), regular cleaning of the facilities, and limiting the number of people in the same space. We do not collect sensitive information from customers, nor do we share any data with third parties. Our website complies with GDPR regulations and is SSL protected.

Employee well-being

Husky Park employs an average of about 20 people year-round, with around 25 employees in total during the winter season. We aim to offer year-round employment to all our guides and office staff. However, many applicants only want to work during the seasonal period, so we also provide that option. Customer service staff are typically seasonal employees.

Our year-round employees help ensure the quality and continuity of our services, and we strive to create year-round jobs even when it is not always financially advantageous for the company. Our company seeks to find a suitable contract type and workload for each employee to maintain high work motivation and, consequently, good job performance.

Employee well-being is important to us, and we want to invest in it even more in the future. In 2024, we introduced new Smartum employee benefits for physical activity, culture, and massage services for year-round employees. This initiative encourages our employees to stay active and take care of their well-being alongside their work. Additionally, last season, we provided monthly bonuses for good performance. This winter 2024-2025 season, we have developed the bonus system, and based on employee feedback, the bonus system will now be more personalized, allowing employees to influence their bonus amount through their own work.

Work well-being

We are committed to improving employee well-being by ensuring good working conditions and fostering a positive work environment. Our goal is to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and motivated. In addition to maintaining high-quality work conditions, we organize team activities to strengthen our community and enhance job satisfaction. We care about our team’s well-being, which is why we organize fun events at the start and end of the season. These evenings are all about getting to know each other, having a great time, and enjoying different activities together. Taking care of employee well-being is essential for a productive and positive work environment. When employees feel valued and supported, they are more motivated, engaged, and committed to their work. Good well-being also reduces stress, improves teamwork, and enhances overall job satisfaction. By maintaining a healthy and enjoyable workplace, we ensure that both our team and our business can thrive.

Harrasment Contact Person

We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment for everyone. To support this, we have appointed a Harassment Contact Person, who is available to provide guidance and assistance in cases of harassment, inappropriate behavior, or discrimination. Their role is to offer confidential support to employees who experience or witness such situations, helping them understand their rights and the available courses of action. They act as a neutral advisor, listening, providing information, and guiding individuals through the process if further steps are needed. While they do not make decisions or impose consequences, they ensure that every concern is taken seriously and handled appropriately. We encourage openness from all employees when it comes to inappropriate or disrespectful behavior. Every concern is taken seriously, and we are committed to addressing issues fairly and professionally. The well-being of our team is our priority, and we want to ensure that everyone feels safe, valued, and comfortable in their workplace. A positive and supportive work environment benefits not only individuals but also the entire team, fostering cooperation, motivation, and job satisfaction. If you ever have concerns, we urge you to speak up – together, we can create a workplace where everyone thrives.

Internship

Every season, we welcome several interns from both Finland and abroad to join our team. Our internship program offers a diverse and hands-on experience, allowing participants to gain valuable skills in customer service, dog care, and various other tasks related to our operations. This is a great opportunity for those who want to develop their expertise in a unique and dynamic environment. We believe in learning by doing, and our interns are actively involved in daily activities, receiving guidance and support from experienced team members. To make the experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible, we also provide accommodation for our interns.

If you are passionate about working with dogs and people and want to gain practical experience in a supportive and welcoming environment, our internship could be the perfect opportunity for you!

Contact us office@huskypark.fi

Permanent Employees and Seasonal Staff

We are committed to offering stability and long-term opportunities to our team members. We strive to provide a clear path for continued employment, offering seasonal workers the chance to return each season and potentially transition into permanent roles. While we always welcome new faces to join our team, we also place great value on the experience and relationships built with our returning staff. Each season, we hire new employees, but we truly hope that those who have worked with us before will return, as their knowledge and dedication play a key role in maintaining the high standards we aim for. We believe in creating a supportive environment where both new and returning employees can grow, feel valued, and contribute to our shared success.

Man petting white siberian husky

Join our Team!

Are you passionate about working with dogs and providing excellent customer service? We are always on the lookout for dedicated and motivated individuals to join our team. Whether you’re interested in a seasonal role or looking for a longer-term opportunity, we would love to hear from you! Our working language is Finnish, and we require our employees to be able to communicate in Finnish. However, interns can speak English. If you’re interested in working with us, don’t hesitate to reach out. Whether you’re looking for an internship or a seasonal job, we are excited to connect with people who share our enthusiasm and commitment to providing exceptional service. Feel free to contact us for more information or to discuss available opportunities. Contact us: office@huskypark.fi

HUSKAINABILITY – DOG’S WELL-BEING

Posted on by huskypark

Welcome to Husky Park’s blog! We’re on the right track. We’ve decided to do our part, and focus on building a sustainable and responsible business. We’re already seeing the change on our winters and WE cannot just spectate. It’s a long journey, but we’ll make it, together! For us, Husky welfare comes first. Today, we check how good care we take of our Siberian Huskies!

Dog’s well-being

It is of paramount importance to us to take good care of our purebred Siberian Huskies, whose well-being and natural needs have been given special attention. The living conditions of the dogs at Husky Park are kept excellent.

Huskies are born to run, and there is nothing they like better than pulling a sled with their friends. The dogs are picked up one by one from the kennels and harnessed to their own place in front of the sled. The working day consists of safaris of different lengths, and a day’s travel can total 30–60 km. There are enough rest days even during the busy winter season. Our dogs are primarily workmates, living creatures that we value, and whose well-being is our number one priority.

Huskies are pulling the sled on a Husky tour in the forest in Husky Park
Husky ride on a sunset in Husky Park, Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, Lapland

Each dog has its own insulated doghouse in the kennel as a resting place, where they can have a stress-free environment. The health of each dog is checked daily during cleaning. We ensure that the dogs have social interaction with each other throughout the year. This is reflected in the placement of the kennels, the structure of sled teams, and the relationship between the dogs and the guides.

We ensure this by following the regulations set by the government, such as providing enclosures of appropriate size, cleaning the enclosures carefully every day, ensuring the dogs receive sufficient food and water, and supporting their natural behaviours. The shelters are spaced out and our park is fenced. In this way, it forms a run for dogs during the thaw. We also have many employees whose tasks include maintaining the dog’s well-being. The dogs receive regular vaccinations and health check-ups, where their well-being and fitness are assessed continuously. They are groomed, and their nails are trimmed regularly.

Siberian Husky with blue eyes in Husky Park, Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, Lapland

The dogs’ sufficient rest is guaranteed by keeping track of the running kilometers for each dog. Every dog has full rest days, and during workdays, regular breaks are taken, as sufficient rest and recovery promote muscle health. Even if a dog is eager to work, its workload and endurance are always assessed individually. Muscle soreness or stiffness in a dog can be observed by monitoring its movements in the sled team and when running free. Our guides always observe the dogs’ endurance, and if a dog is having a bad day and does not want to run, they are allowed to return to the kennel. We aim to keep the composition of sled teams as balanced as possible so that dogs in lower condition do not have to overexert themselves, and well-conditioned dogs do not need to slow down. Dogs need exercise year-round. In the summer, the dogs can run freely in the running yard in small groups in the mornings, allowing them to release energy and interact with other kennel dogs.

Work motivation is extremely important for the dogs’ mental well-being and the quality of their work. Motivation must be maintained individually, as dogs are motivated in different ways. A sled dog suited to its job loves working—running and pulling—but even good motivation must be maintained, as regaining lost motivation can be difficult. Motivation is maintained through variety, such as changes in routes, direction, different trails, and swapping positions in the team. To keep work motivation high, we sometimes relieve lead dogs of their responsibility and let them work in other positions. As the dogs approach retirement, we begin searching for retirement homes for them, mainly through social media and among locals. The dogs always retire in Finland, as they are accustomed to the climate, and, for example, flying could be mentally stressful for the dog. During the selection process, the suitability of potential new owners is carefully assessed, and they must explain what kind of home they can provide for the dog. The dog is always placed only in a safe and suitable home. For example, we ensure that active dogs do not retire to people living in apartments who cannot provide the necessary exercise. We could improve the retirement process by more actively checking in on the dog’s life with the new owner and maintaining more frequent contact. Retired dogs are allowed to stay at Husky Park for as long as it takes to find a suitable retirement home, and they can participate in activities according to their health and condition.

Siberian Husky is drinking meat soup on a break from Husky Safari

Our Carbon Footprint

We calculated for the first time ever our carbon footprint in 2024! We calculated first Scope 1 & 2 and result from those emissions is 19,27 tCO2e. While our calculations aren’t perfect due to some unavailable data especially regarding the Scope 3 emissions, this is a promising start. Most of our emissions come from gas, diesel and dog food. The electricity we purchase is already 100% renewable. One big change in our sustainability journey has been changing the heating from electricity to geothermal heating. Next step is to buy a cold room for dog food as we have had now just many smaller freezers. This will decrease our electricity usage even more. We also try our best to avoid food loss and and we strive to use motorized vehicles even more wisely to reduce our emissions!⚡️

Certifications

Arctic Circle Husky Park has received the Green Activities certificate, the Key Flag mark and the Sustainable Travel Finland certificate.

KEY FLAG

The Key Flag symbol in connection with the service indicates that the service employs people in Finland and that our company is domestically owned.

GREEN ACTIVITIES

An environmental program intended specifically for nature entrepreneurs, Green Activities is a part of the globally-recognized and respected Green Key.

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL FINLAND

The Sustainable Travel Finland label makes it easier for travelers to recognize a tourism company and destination that takes sustainability seriously.

See our whole sustainability plan