1. Who is suitable for the job?
The job of a deliverer is suitable for people in many different life situations. There are many students, entrepreneurs, stay-at-home moms and dads, and people with other jobs. What they all have in common is that they are looking for additional income and want to do part-time work. After all, work leaves days free for studying or hobbies, for example.
The deliverer is also required to be in a relatively good physical condition, independent and able to adapt to night work. Adapting to night work and the physicality of some routes in particular may take some time getting used to, and you should not make hasty decisions based on the first few nights.
2. What kinds of products are delivered at night?
The main product of the delivery is Turun Sanomat. In addition to that, the deliverer can have 21 other newspapers to deliver, for example Helsingin Sanomat and Kaarina-lehti.
Magazines, letters, small packages and advertisements are been delivered on top of the newspapers. Addressed mail is delivered on weekdays, five days a week. A separate, payment per-copy compensation is paid for the delivery of advertisements.
3. Where does the deliverer pick up the papers to be delivered? How to get there?
Newspapers are found at the drop-off point for each route. In addition to newspapers, other products to be distributed such as letters and magazines are also found at the drop-off point. The delivery person comes to the drop-off location using the same means of transport he uses to do his work, i.e. a bicycle/car provided by the employer or his own car.
4. How long are working hours at night?
The number of hours in one night varies between three and five hours, depending on the region and the amount of delivery material. On average, the length of a working night is about four hours. The number of hours becomes more precise when it is known which routes the deliverer takes care of. The work is done on average between 01:30 and 06:00.
5. Is night time work dangerous?
The biggest challenges at night are mainly related to weather conditions: heavy snow, slippery conditions and darkness. To cover the slipperiness and darkness, there are anti-skid shoe covers, studded tires for bicycles and headlamps.
6. Is there any help at night if you have questions about the job?
At night, the deliverer can contact the early delivery support, which is on duty every night when newspapers are delivered. They help in every matter.
7. Do the deliverers need their own bike or car?
Most of the routes in Turku are delivered by bicycles. Deliverers do not need their own bicycles, but use the employer’s bicycles in their work. In other locations, the work is done either with one’s own car or with the employer’s car. For the use of your own car, a tax-free mileage allowance is paid according to the instructions from the tax office, when the route has been specified to be done with your own car.
8. Do the deliverers get work clothes or shoes?
Those in permanent employment will receive protective clothing after the trial period. Work shoes are purchased by each deliverer themself. The purchase costs of the shoes can be deducted in taxation.
9. What tools do the deliverers use in their work? How do the deliverers know where the newspapers are delivered to?
Deliveres use a delivery book application on their phone. It contains the delivery route, instructions on where to find the right hatches and mailboxes, both addressable and unaddressed shareables.
The deliverers receive a carrier bag, gloves, headlamp, rain coat, bicycle helmet and a hood, a protective bag for the phone and for their own car, e.g. a phone holder and a service driving sign from the employer.
10. Is knowledge of the Finnish language mandatory?
The delivery instructions are also available in English, so good Finnish or English language skills are required.
11. How much does the work pay?
The hourly wage is in accordance with the collective agreement on delivery between Medialiitto and Teollisuusliitto. After one year of employment, the hourly wage increases as the years of service increase.
In addition to the hourly wage, the unaddressed mail delivery and the work done on holidays increase the salary. The average hourly earnings of a new distributor with extras is around 12 euros.
The deliverers’ collective agreement with up-to-date salaries can also be found online.
12. How do work days and holidays alternate?
The most common rotation is 6 nights work, 2 days off. In certain situations, we can also agree on other types of work rotations. Since our main product Turun Sanomat is published 355 times a year, work is done on weekdays, weekends and also on some holidays.
13. What kind of holidays do the deliverers have?
Deliverers have a normal statutory five-week annual leave.
14. What kind of personnel benefits are offered to the deliverers?
Employees are offered, among other things, a newspaper subscription, exercise benefits and advertisement benefits.