A week of remote work in the sunshine offered energy and inspiration

Thirteen Alma employees set out for remote work abroad during one of the darkest months in Finland, November. In addition to good work conditions, the main selection criteria for the destination was sunshine, so they chose Las Palmas, the capital of the Canary Islands.

For some, Las Palmas was already familiar from previous remote work periods, and accommodation was easily arranged through a known contact. The villa had everything needed: fast Wi-Fi, external monitors, and plenty of space for both focused work and collaborative activities.

The week went smoothly, and the change of environment increased motivation and strengthened the sense of team unity.

“The biggest change to our normal routine was lunchtime, since, like many Alma employees, we are used to having lunch at eleven. Local lunch restaurants often didn’t open until the afternoon. We managed by stocking the fridge with snacks”, says Senior Software Developer Ari Hiltunen, who was involved in the travel arrangements.

Free time was spent exploring the city, going on excursions, and enjoying culture such as museums and soccer. Getting to know local flavors was also an essential part of the experience.

Alma enables working abroad for up to one month

At Alma, the attitude toward remote work periods abroad has always been positive.

“The first trip was made even before the pandemic, at a time when remote work at home, let alone from abroad, was just starting to become common. Alma has been a forerunner in this respect, as back then arranging a week of remote work abroad was already easy”, says Ari, who has participated in several remote work trips.

Nowadays, Alma employees can work in EU countries for up to a month. Alma also encourages trying Office Swap, which means working from another Alma office. Currently, options include Alma offices in Helsinki, Tampere, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Prague, Bratislava, and Zagreb.

The employee covers the accommodation and travel expenses for the remote work period abroad.

“It’s great that the employer allows and even encourages a change of scenery now and then. It shows there is trust in the employees. A week in the sun with colleagues gives energy both for work and everyday life”, Ari notes.

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