Purpose: This paper aims to present the baseline results of a research and development project targeted to improve the occupational well-being of school staff and maintain their ability to work, in Finland and Estonia. It reveals the most problematic factors in the various aspects of the school community and professional competence and outlines development needs in the school communities. Design/methodology/approach: The overall project design is action research, conducted during 2009-2013 in the SHE (Schools for Health in Europe) network in Finland and Estonia. The baseline survey data were collected in 2009-2010 with a web-based Well-being at your work index questionnaire and analysed statistically using descriptive statistics, sum variables of factors and Mann-Whitney tests. Findings: The general opinions of the Finnish school staffs were more affirmative than those of Estonian school staffs regarding their own personal occupational well-being in comparison with the best in the profession (p=0.000). However, the Finns were more critical than the Estonians when estimating the general well-being of the staff in their working community, maintenance of their ability to work, the aspects of the school community and professional competence and development needs in the school communities. Research limitations/implications: The results cannot be widely generalised due to the geographically defined samples, but they can be suggestive in comparable situations in Finland and Estonia. Originality/value: There is a need to develop the occupational well-being of school staff and maintenance of their ability to work in the school communities: specific interventions will be developed on the basis of the results obtained from the project schools. (Contains 4 tables and 2 figures.)