This paper reports the development and results of a project within the Comenius program to promote teachers’ occupational well-being, in which Finnish, Irish, Italian and German school communities between 2003 and 2006. The goal of this research was to produce descriptive research information that could be used in the development of occupational well-being in schools. The research framework also allowed comparison of the results gathered from the Finnish school with the data from the schools in the partner countries. The factors affecting occupational well-being and its promotion were divided into four sections: 1) the worker and work, 2) working conditions, 3) professional competence and 4) the working community. The initial section includes staff members and their work and describes the health, the psychological and physical work load, the individual resources and the factors that affect them. In turn, the section about working conditions includes the physical operational environment (physical, chemical and biological factors) and the issue of work safety. The section describing professional competence covers occupational competency as well as options for additional education or training. The section about work community is considered to include areas such as the supervision of work and the organization, leadership, social support and communication with the staff (Saaranen et al., 2007). 

Saaranen, T., Tossavainen, K., Turunen, H., Kiviniemi, V., & Vertio, H. 2007. Occupational wellbeing of school staff members: A structural equation model. Health Education Research, 22(2), 248–260. Saaranen, T., Sormunen, M., Streimann, K., Pertel, T., Hansen, S., Varava, L., Lepp, K., Turunen, H., & Tossavainen, K. 2012. School staffs' occupational well-being and maintenance of their ability to work in Finland and Estonia - focus on the school community and professional competence. Health Education, Supplement Number (accepted in 2011 and it will be published in 2012).