Flexibility and Trust Are Cornerstones of Wapice’s Culture

At Wapice, we believe that flexibility is not just a single practice or a list of employee benefits. It is a way of thinking and designing how we operate as a whole. Sustainable working life is built on shared values and the small, everyday actions guided by them. Customer focus, an open and inclusive culture, and the opportunity to influence one’s own work are at the heart of this approach.

It is difficult to talk about flexibility without talking about trust. In many organizations, for example, restrictions related to remote work may still stem from a need for control, even though today—especially in expert roles—work can often be done effectively regardless of location.

At Wapice, our starting point is to clearly define goals and the boundaries for how work is done. Once these are in place, people are given a great deal of freedom to do their work in the way they see best. Trust does not mean a lack of rules; it means shared understanding and flexibility in how work gets done. When it comes to work location, the default is that teams and individuals decide for themselves where they work whenever possible.

Flexible culture benefits evertyone. At an individual level, flexibility strengthens the sense of control and autonomy, supports work–life balance, and reduces strain. Feeling trusted and having the opportunity to influence one’s own work often also translates into better performance and long-term wellbeing.

More motivated employees are usually more committed as well. In any work environment, there will inevitably be situations that require extra effort—customer needs, project deadlines, and unexpected changes can occasionally mean stretching the workday. In our experience, people are more willing to be flexible for shared goals when flexibility is experienced as a reciprocal part of the culture.

Based on our employee surveys, flexibility is one of the most valued aspects of working at Wapice. We share a common understanding that freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. People want to do their work well and take responsibility for shared objectives without excessive control.

We have found that the ability to influence how work is done, the tools used, and working hours—as well as overall balance between work and life—are among the most valued elements of flexibility for employees. We also aim to keep bureaucracy to a minimum so that agreed practices can adapt when there is a justified need.

Working time flexibility is one concrete way to support this balance. Flexible hours and a working time bank are part of our own collective agreement, and working hours are agreed individually with each employee, taking into account job requirements and life situations. As circumstances change or after longer absences, it is only natural that additional flexibility may be needed.

As remote work becomes more common, it is equally important to pay conscious attention to community and leadership. In fully remote settings, casual encounters decrease, challenges related to wellbeing may go unnoticed, and the risk of isolation can increase if these issues are not addressed deliberately. That is why at Wapice we agree on suitable ways of working and touchpoints within projects, and our offices host voluntary Meet & Mingle days. Rather than forcing presence, we prefer to create conditions that encourage interaction and the exchange of ideas.

Ultimately, flexibility requires continuous dialogue and a careful balance between the needs of people, customers, and the business. When flexibility is seen as a mindset and trust as its foundation, it creates a culture where freedom and responsibility are in balance.