Have you ever felt that it can be challenging to find a work environment that allows you to live a balanced life? Are you an ambitious, growth-oriented professional who wants to take full ownership of your work? We think these two things can go hand-in-hand. That’s why we have a flexible work culture where everyone is encouraged and supported in taking ownership – in a way that suits them the best.
“We believe that by giving people the opportunity to take control of their own workflow, they can become more engaged in their work and develop a better sense of ownership”, says Head of People Jessica Salminen. This allows you to reach your full potential, and ultimately, be happier and more motivated at work!
Here are 5 examples of how this is seen in our day-to-day lives:
“The ability to choose where and when to work is a powerful motivator”, Jessica says. That’s why you can design work schedules that best fit your desired lifestyle. But of course, it means that you have to make take into account your team schedules and shared meetings.
"Flexible work culture allows me to focus on being the best version of myself. This means being there for my loved ones and taking care of myself. I can, for example, maintain my fitness routines easier which helps me to thrive better at work", says Logistics Manager Mariska Kapelle.
"Flexible work culture allows me to focus on being the best version of myself.” – Mariska Kapelle
In addition, we all have different rhythms naturally. Jessica says that she is the early bird who thrives her best in the morning. "You will find me logging in early. I love that it gives me the flexibility to sometimes handle personal things during the work day while still being available to my team."
The freedom to shape your work schedule does come with an increased responsibility toward transparency and effective communication.
And that’s a good thing! It’s not just about keeping everyone in the loop but also about ensuring the entire team stays on track.
“Flexible work culture shapes the way of documenting everything. Every meeting, every decision, and every process is documented and easily accessible. Being able to get some information can’t be dependent on anyone's physical presence”, Mariska says.
So, it’s a win-win for everyone. It helps you to maintain a comprehensive view of your tasks which leads to better decision-making. And on the other hand, it encourages everyone to develop processes that boost efficiency and reduce the room for error.
It does not come as a surprise that hybrid work is here to stay after the pandemic years. At Fiksuruoka–Foodello, it means that you have the option to work remotely or in our offices in Helsinki or Amsterdam. And sometimes, even abroad, if you just ask in advance.
Measurement Specialist Fanny Le Béguec embraces the fact that as an expat in Finland, she can work remotely when visiting her family abroad. "As I work from my parents' or in-laws' place, my daughter enjoys dedicated time with grandparents and cousins. Then we can use proper holidays to go on adventures. It’s a great way to re-balance the expat time", she says.
And let’s not forget that we all have different needs and preferences on what the ideal work environment is like.
Do you want to be social? Or do you need silent space to focus? Maybe it depends on the day. In our Helsinki office, we have dedicated different areas for focused work or social desks for teamwork that you can choose from.
"I prefer to do the socializing and teamwork at the office and super-focused work at home. Occasionally I like to work from a coffee shop or some co-working spaces I have booked with my friends", says Liisa-Lotta Laulainen, who works as a Designer in our Product team.
Flexible work culture isn't about working less, but about working smarter. You get to maintain a healthy work-life balance while taking better ownership of your work.
As Liisa-Lotta puts it: "It’s not just about work-life balance, but rather work becoming part of your everyday life in the best possible way."
To make this possible, you can organize your holidays in a very flexible way. You can use your annual holidays in advance, take an unpaid holiday or individual day-offs when you need it or even combine these. We trust that our professionals know how to delegate their work within their teams.
“Flexibility leaves room for boosting happiness and motivation, which in turn affects the quality of work.” – Liisa-Lotta Laulainen
"Flexibility leaves room for boosting happiness and motivation, which in turn affects the quality of work”, Liisa-Lotta sums it up.
In the end, it all comes down to trust.
“The flexibility we are given at Fiksuruoka–Foodello goes hand in hand with trust. It feels empowering to be trusted like this by your employer. The freedom I have at work motivates me to do my best. I feel lucky to be able to choose my own hours or work from abroad”, says Marketing Campaign Manager Sarah Bels.
“It feels empowering to be trusted like this by your employer. The freedom I have at work motivates me to do my best.” – Sarah Bels
Owning your work also means standing by your decisions and handling the results, good or bad. It's about being proactive, spotting potential problems, and nipping them in the bud. It involves continuous learning and improvement, which ultimately contribute to both your personal growth and the success of your team.
“Taking ownership is actually a powerful motivator because it pushes you to excel at what you do. We know that we can trust our employees to handle their tasks and point out if they need help”, Jessica says.
And when you know that you are trusted to make the decisions that apply to your work, it can result in a deeper sense of pride in your work. 💚
👉 Read more about a tool that allows you to take full ownership of your work!