Working from home before it was cool

Working from home is often seen as a phenomenon that emerged after the pandemic. At Sicra, consultants have had the opportunity to work from home since the company's inception. When Stig and his co-founders started Sicra in 2016, many were tired of working in large companies that micromanaged every aspect of their work.

– Our goal when we started Sicra was to create a great workplace for ourselves. We had all worked in large companies that weren't necessarily good at taking care of their people.

They started with around six people but have grown to a team of over twenty talented individuals.

Working from home before Covid-19

Many companies implemented remote work because the pandemic forced them to. Both students and professionals across various industries were given the opportunity to work from home. At Sicra, consultants could work from their farm, apartment, or house long before Covid forced them to.

– We have physical offices, but no one is required to work at our office outside Oslo. Consultants work in the environments where they are most comfortable and therefore most productive.

For Sicra, it is important that employees have good working conditions and are not forced into a work situation they do not enjoy.

Live where you want

A solution where consultants can work from home means they don't have to struggle through traffic to get to and from work. Working from home also means that those who work at Sicra don't have to live in Oslo. They can realistically live in Drammen, Skien, or as far away as Hardanger without it being a problem.

– This means we can hire skilled professionals from all over the country without forcing them to uproot their lives and disrupt their social networks. Their children also don't have to start at a new school if they are happy where they are.

Sicra's remote work solution offers a great deal of flexibility for employees.

Remote work, but still together

Even though Sicra's consultants work from home, they still have social contact points where they meet. Three times a week, we have lunch over Teams where we talk about everything from microbrewing to boats and farming.

– Sicra also organizes monthly gatherings with both professional and social elements. We eat some food and go to the pub together, enjoying the evening.

In 2024, Sicra had a summer party at Oscarsborg Fortress in Drøbak. We enjoyed a three-course meal with a wine menu and had a visit from the band Trang Fødsel.

– The next day, we had a historical tour around the island. The sinking of Blücher is perhaps the historical event the island is most known for. It gave Norway the opportunity to get the king and the gold reserves out of the country.

Sicra builds on the principle of trust

While some companies like to micromanage their employees, Sicra builds on the principle of trust. We let our consultants work from home because we trust they will do their job. The principle of trust creates a much healthier workplace because it is based on the idea that people want to perform and that you don't need to nag them to do so. People can also have good reasons to take time off. They or their children might be sick. Other unexpected things can come up in life.

– At Sicra, no one believes that people are absent from work because they are lazy. We assume that people have good reasons to be away from work. Sicra does not require sick notes or that employees be present from 07:00 to 16:00 no matter what.

The principle of trust also creates emotional security for employees. When employees feel safe and cared for by their workplace, that security creates good consultants who do great work for our clients. It's a win for Sicra.