Commute expenses
Part-time teachers can be reimbursed for their commute expenses from home to the teaching location and back for the part exceeding their personal liability under the preconditions laid down in the Municipal Collective Agreement for Teaching Personnel (in Finnish) (OVTES, kt.fi). Commute expenses are reimbursed for the part of lessons and teacher meetings. The reimbursement is calculated using the shortest possible route and the least expensive public transport fare. Costs are reimbursed only for the part of the journey exceeding 20 kilometres (OVTES, Chapter F, Appendix 12, Section 12). Thus, the teacher’s personal liability for the journey to-and-from is 40 kilometres as of 1 January 2023.
Commute expenses from home to work and back are only reimbursed once per day. The Tax Administration states that commute reimbursements are considered taxable income. If a part-time teacher travels from one teaching location to another during the working day, the travel expense reimbursement is tax-free. Commute expense applications are submitted twice per semester or immediately after completion of short-term teaching.
Public transport
In public transport, this means additional zones and with your own car, kilometre allowance. When travelling by public transport, the two-zone ticket (AB or BC) is considered your personal liability. If your journey requires a three- or four-zone ticket, the additional zones are reimbursed.
Reimbursement amounts
- €0 is reimbursed for a AB/BC/CD (€3.20) ticket
- the difference between the three-zone ticket and the two-zone ticket is reimbursed for a ABC/BCD (€4.40) ticket, i.e. €1,20
- the difference between the four-zone ticket and the two-zone ticket is reimbursed for a ABCD (€4.80) ticket, i.e. €1.60
In case of a long-distance traffic ticket, the feeder traffic ticket is considered personal liability. Enter in your commute expense report the tickets and sums for the entire journey so that we can verify whether you have had a feeder traffic ticket that is considered your personal liability.
Right to use your own car
To be agreed in advance with the coordinating teacher when planning the course. The kilometre allowance is only paid for the part of the journey exceeding 20 kilometres.
Applying for commute expenses
Apply for commute expenses in Kursor. Instructions in Finnish.
Meal voucher
Meal vouchers have been discontinued. Starting from March 3rd 2025 the Epassi lunch benefit will be introduced.
If you do not have the possibility to use Omnia’s cafeteria, you can redeem the Epassi lunch benefit for those workdays. The lunch benefit must be ordered in advance, and is eligible on workdays when you have at least 6 working hours. You cannot use the lunch benefit while working remotely.
The value of the lunch benefit in 2025 is up to 13 euros per meal.
- The employee’s share of the lunch benefit is 75% or at least €8.60.
- The employer’s share is up to 25% or the amount exceeding €8.60.
Epassi Lunch Benefit
Order the lunch benefit in advance from HR services at omniahr@omnia.fi.
In the subject line of your email, write: Lounasedun tilaus + your name.
Include the following information in your message:
- Your name and date of birth
- Phone number
- The month for which the benefit applies (order one month at a time)
- The number of benefits (meals) you wish to order
The Epassi lunch benefit is valid only during the current month. Your personal employee’s share of the lunch benefit will be deducted from your next month’s salary payment. However, you will not be charged for any ordered lunch benefits that you do not use.