Microsoft Finland and the Finnish Environmental Administration joined forces to raise awareness for the potential benefits of working outside the traditional office. Their aim is to encourage more people to try stretching the umbilical cord to the office.

Recent research into workplace wellbeing places Finland among the top countries in Europe. As many as 45 percent of office workers fulfil their duties flexibly outside of official working hours, either at customers’ premises, while travelling or at home. However studies by the institute of occupational health show that just 14 percent of employees work remotely from the home or summer cottage on a regular basis.

Better results working remotely

Companies such as Microsoft have encouraged their employees to occasionally log on to the work network from home.

“We have seen a vast improvement in how employees feel about work and in terms of work-life balance. Distance work gives us the opportunity how work is organsed, when and where work is done and at what points in the day duties are performed,” said Microsoft Personnel Director Tytti Bergman.

Distance working has provided companies and employees with positive experiences.

“At least productivity has not declined. You could say that the more content employees are with their work the better and the smarter their work results,” Bergman added.