Nokia shifts to two days in the office in flexible working push
Nokia staff will be able to work up to three days a week remotely as the telecoms giant becomes the latest company to embrace flexible working.
The Finnish firm has outlined new guidelines coming into force from next year after asking for employee feedback following the pandemic.
It said staff will be given greater flexibility for a three-day remote model, as well as increased support for flexible working hours and fully virtual working.
Nokia will also overhaul its office space in the aftermath of Covid as it shifts its focus to collaborative working.
Many of its offices will see up to 70 per cent of space allocated to teamwork and meetings, with less space reserved for individual desks.
Some sites, including offices in Singapore, Dallas and Budapest, have already been configured, with further locations expected to be reconfigured by the end of the year.
The policy shift comes after Nokia conducted a company-wide survey at the end of last year.
Of the roughly 26,000 who responded to the survey, 91 per cent said their productivity had remained the same or improved while working from home.
On average employees said they wanted to work two or three days from home, with more than 80 per cent saying they still preferred to come into the office for at least some time.
“While flexibility and respect have always been at the heart of Nokia, we want to give all our people even greater choice and flexibility over their work, so we are accelerating our transition to become a fully hybrid global workplace,” said Pekka Lundmark, Nokia president and chief executive.
Nokia said it also planned to roll out new technology by the end of the year that will allow employees to book workspace and office amenities, as well as online resources to support flexible working.
The company said its office revamps would occur on a country-by-country basis, taking into accounts local needs, laws and the Covid situation.