Hybrid working, remote working or on-site working – or does it matter where you work?

As in many other workplaces, Hurja also saw a mass shift to remote working just over a year and a half ago. Since then, some of us have returned to the office, some work entirely remotely, and it is also common to find a hybrid arrangement somewhere between these two extremes. Some employees have also moved further away from Kuopio or started working remotely while living in another town.

Hybrid working, remote working and on-site working are now on the lips of almost everyone who has switched to remote working during this period. How will our own working lives change now that the recommendations for remote working are being lifted, yet there is no going back to the way things were? The clear benefits of remote working have been recognized, but so too have the downsides. Some companies that have been operating under a remote working model have announced that a return to the previous model of on-site working is on the cards as soon as the general situation allows. Some have announced that they will be moving to a model where, for example, remote working is only permitted on two days a week. Other companies, meanwhile, say that employees will be able to decide for themselves where they work in future.

Well-being at work comes first, and we’re all in this together

For us, it’s about values, people and well-being at work, not just the workplace itself. One of Hurja’s values is team spirit. Team spirit means that we work as a single team and strive towards the same goal. Openness and a supportive working environment are important to us, and we want to celebrate our successes together. At Hurja, we respect one another and each do our bit to ensure we all enjoy our work. During these exceptional times, we – along with other companies that have switched to remote working – have faced a real test of our ability to maintain that team spirit.

Remote working lacks those quick interactions and the spontaneous sharing of ideas with colleagues that arise while standing by the coffee machine or water dispenser. And, of course, sharing information during joint lunch breaks doesn’t work or reach everyone if office days clash and only a few people happen to be in the office at the same time. For this reason, we have invested heavily in internal communication, and our calendars now feature, for example, regular virtual coffee breaks for informal discussion.

Flexibly towards the new normal

Some of us like to work at the office, where the work ethic is said to spread from one colleague to another almost by accident. Many pop into the office to catch up with colleagues about once a week. We also have employees who prefer to work exclusively on-site at Hurja’s head office in the centre of Kuopio.

Now that the general pandemic situation is easing, we are focusing even more on well-being at work and facilitating face-to-face meetings. Our approach to the workplace is one of flexibility, but we also hope that teams working together will meet in person at least from time to time to maintain a sense of community. As an employer, we want to facilitate informal get-togethers that foster team spirit, such as joint games evenings and other activities.

We also have the ePass, which is topped up twice a year and allows staff to spend the balance on their choice of sports, cultural or well-being services. Employees have indeed made good use of the ePassi in a variety of ways, for example for running courses, museum visits, bowling, gym membership fees and various indoor games.

At Hurja, the most important thing is that our staff enjoy working here, as that also means satisfied customers. As our next team-building event, we’re currently organizing a board game night, to which all Hurja staff are welcome.

We asked employees for their thoughts on Hurja as an employer

A good workplace is characterized by a strong team spirit and the opportunity to have a say in one’s own work and the working environment. Integrating into the workplace always requires initiative on the part of the employee, but the employer must, for their part, ensure that all new employees feel at home and are able to become part of the workplace community. One method we use for induction of new employees and for managing changing job roles is, for example, Hurja’s mentoring scheme.

We want to make Hurja the best place to work for our staff, while also taking into account their different life circumstances.

At Hurja, we encourage initiative and ensure that our employees have the opportunity to influence both their own work and the wider working environment.

Improving the employee experience is important to us. That is why we carried out the Great Place to Work® Trust Index™ employee survey this year. This reliable, externally conducted survey gives us a comprehensive understanding of the employee experience and our corporate culture, which helps us develop Hurja into the best place to work.

Everyone has the right to flexible working arrangements

Hurja has always maintained that work is not dependent on anyone’s location. All employees have the opportunity to work flexibly in line with the demands of their role and job description. Communication takes place via channels suitable for remote working, and face-to-face meetings are arranged when this is the best way to deal with the matter at hand. It is also easy to get in touch with colleagues and organize virtual meetings, even at short notice.

It’s perfectly normal that some of us want to work partly in the office, partly from home, and some on a hybrid model. For some, working from home may feel overwhelming, while for others, the time saved on the commute tips the balance in its favor. That’s why it’s important to us that employees are treated as individuals, and as a small but growing software company, we’re in an excellent position to do just that. Hybrid working, remote working or on-site working – or does the location even matter? It doesn’t; for us, the most important thing is that our employees are happy and that the work gets done.

Would you be a good fit for our dynamic team? Dare to go wild and send us your application, as we’re constantly expanding our expertise to meet our customers’ growing needs.

Read more about working at Hurja