The nationwide recommendation to work from home if possible — a measure introduced to stem the spread of Covid infections — ended on Monday 28 February.
However, workplaces across Finland are not expecting a mass return of employees despite the lifting of the recommendation, as two years of telecommuting has led to a cultural shift in how many people work.
In some cases, employees have moved hundreds of kilometres away from their places of work, as advanced telecommunications connections mean they can do their jobs almost anywhere. Living within a short commutable distance from work is no longer a necessity.
Niina Kellinsalmi, an online editor with the Finnish Customs office, moved from Helsinki to Tampere during the pandemic, attracted by cheaper housing and the chance to live in her old hometown.
Although her job is officially in Helsinki, Kellinsalmi will continue to work from Tampere.
"Working remotely has gone very well. Actually, it makes no difference whether I do the work remotely from Helsinki or here from Tampere remotely at home," Kellinsalmi told Yle, adding that her employer was encouraging about the move.
Her company's unit, the communications department, had largely decided to continue working remotely even as the pandemic has calmed.
"I am not the first of our team to move outside the metropolitan area," she said.
According to Virpi Ruohomäki, a working life specialist and senior researcher at public health authority THL, this is part of a wider trend as the distance between home and work has lost its significance.
"The time saved on commuting is very important for many if some of the work can be done remotely. The possibility of telecommuting will therefore be an asset for employers in the future. Many hope to be able to make decisions about where to live based on other factors than just the location of their workplace," Ruohomäki explained.
However, she added that there are both advantages and disadvantages to this new way of working. While there are pros — less time spent commuting, working independence and flexibility — there are drawbacks too, including extended working hours, loneliness and isolation.
The community spirit created within a workplace also diminishes significantly when teams work remotely.
"Now it is a question of how telecommuting and the modern workplace will be combined in the future. Different hybrid solutions are currently being considered, such as combining remote and on-site work," Ruohomäki said.