TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction: A Mindset, Not a Model

When people talk about remote work, they usually mean logging in from home, skipping the commute, and joining meetings through a laptop screen. Hybrid work, on the other hand, is often described as a mix – sometimes in the office, sometimes remote. But at Klika Tech, we’ve learned that these aren’t just logistical setups. They are the ways of thinking about how people connect, collaborate, and create.

Every Klika Tech team member can choose the model that best suits them: fully remote, hybrid, or fully in the office. There’s no “one right way” and no mandatory requirement to show up at a desk. Some people thrive on the energy of office life, others prefer the focus of remote work, and many combine the two. By giving our team the freedom to decide, we make sure work adapts to life, not the other way around.

Remote and hybrid work aren’t about where you are – they’re about how you work best. They ask a simple question: can your environment help you do your best work while still feeling like part of a team? For us, the answer has been a resounding yes. We’ve embraced that mindset fully. Our people are spread across the globe, representing more than 20 nationalities and working from 6 countries, including the U.S., Poland, Germany, Colombia, and Kazakhstan.

This diversity has been our strength since day one. We don’t just “manage” remote and hybrid work – we constantly refine how we collaborate so our people can thrive in different environments while still feeling connected to one team. We’ve built a system that doesn’t just accommodate different working styles, but it thrives on them.

Why Remote and Hybrid Are Here to Stay

The tech industry has long been a pioneer in flexible work models. Cloud computing, IoT, and agile methodologies enable distributed teams, and over the past few years, the shift toward hybrid has accelerated.

One of the greatest strengths of Klika Tech is our people, and they’re everywhere. From Bogotá to Berlin, Miami to Almaty, our experts bring with them not only technical know-how but also unique cultural perspectives and problem-solving approaches. Hybrid and remote work make this possible. Without geographic barriers, we can assemble project teams with the very best specialists for each challenge, regardless of where they live. That global collaboration fuels innovation: a cloud engineer in Poland can design alongside an IoT architect in Colombia and a UX designer in Colombia, all contributing their expertise in real time. By embracing remote and hybrid models, we’ve turned distance into an advantage, ensuring our clients benefit from the most diverse, well-rounded solutions.

For us, hybrid isn’t a compromise. It’s the best of both worlds: the flexibility to work remotely and the opportunity to collaborate in person when it brings value.

Fruitful Cooperation: How We Built a Model That Works

At Klika Tech, we know that flexibility isn’t just about offering remote options, but about creating a model that adapts to how teams actually work. That’s why our hybrid setup is intentionally fluid, giving each group the freedom to design a rhythm that fits their goals, personalities, and projects.

  • Office rhythm. The office is not an obligation – it’s a resource. We encourage team members to come in when it adds real value: onboarding sessions, creative brainstorming, whiteboard-heavy workshops, or simply the kind of team meetings that benefit from face-to-face energy. Beyond that, it’s up to each team to decide their own cadence. Some prefer weekly office touchpoints, others drop in once a month, and some reserve in-person time for major project milestones. This freedom ensures that office days are meaningful, not performative.
  • Asynchronous work. With colleagues spread across six countries and multiple time zones, we’ve learned to master the art of asynchronous collaboration. We’ve built workflows that keep projects moving 24/7, which allows many of our teams to work on the same project in different time zones. Clear documentation, shared boards, and recorded updates mean that if a teammate logs in hours later, they have the full context to contribute. This system respects personal working styles while keeping global teams aligned.
  • Tech stack. The glue that holds it all together is our digital backbone. Tools like Slack, Jira, and Confluence enable smooth communication and project management, while cloud-native platforms ensure secure, real-time collaboration. For creative problem-solving, video calls paired with virtual whiteboarding apps allow us to brainstorm as if we were physically gathered around the same table. The result is a workplace where distance doesn’t dilute collaboration, it amplifies it.

Workation Program

We believe productivity doesn’t come from monitoring hours – it comes from empowering people and measuring outcomes. At Klika Tech, we emphasize ownership. When someone is trusted to manage their time and deliver results, they naturally rise to the occasion. This arrangement works perfectly in our Workation Program, which allows team members whose roles don’t require regular office or client presence to work remotely from anywhere for up to three months a year. It’s not just a perk – it’s a testament to our trust in employees, and a nod to the enriching creativity that comes from new environments.

Our HR Business Partner, Michalina Dąbek, puts it this way:
“Remote and hybrid work have transformed the way I balance my professional and personal life. They offer the flexibility to manage my schedule around important commitments, improve productivity by allowing me to create an ideal work environment, and reduce stress. Participating in a workation program takes this flexibility even further, blending work with travel and new experiences, which fosters creativity and refreshes my motivation.

I also feel more alive — I’m able to do something beyond just spending the whole day working and commuting to work and back home.

I’ve come across plenty of amusing Instagram reels that poke fun at how many of us spend five days a week glued to work and then scramble to pack a whole life into just two weekend days. Luckily, that’s not my reality. Overall, these work models have enhanced my well-being, job satisfaction, and work-life harmony. “

This approach not only boosts productivity but also strengthens loyalty. Employees feel respected and supported, which translates into higher engagement and better client outcomes.

Company Culture: Bringing Everyone Into the Circle

We’ve learned that culture is less about being in the same office and more about creating shared experiences, rituals, and values that travel across time zones. That’s why we put a strong emphasis on connection — celebrating milestones, running interactive online challenges, recognizing individual contributions, and giving people space to simply enjoy each other’s company. By doing so, we make sure that hybrid and remote work never feels isolating. Instead, they become opportunities to strengthen bonds and show that belonging to Klika Tech goes far beyond the screen.

Celebrations in the Office

While much of our collaboration happens online, we also believe in the magic of gathering face-to-face. At Klika Tech, we take every opportunity to celebrate together in the office, because shared moments build stronger bonds. Our offices regularly become spaces for connection – not just during the big holidays, but throughout the year. We mark International Women’s Day with flowers and appreciation for our colleagues, honor the unique contributions of our teams on Programmers’ Day and Testers’ Day, bring out the seasonal decorations and celebrate holidays like Halloween, International Children’s Day or Winter Holidays together. Add to that seasonal gatherings, birthdays, and local cultural events, and there’s always something to look forward to. These occasions encourage team members to step away from their desks, laugh together, enjoy something delicious waiting for them in the office kitchen and strengthen the friendships that make collaboration smoother. For us, hybrid work doesn’t mean fewer opportunities to connect face-to-face – it means making every in-person moment count.

Team-Building Events

We organize online team-building events where teams solve escape rooms virtually or compete in online trivia. During intense project weeks, some offices hold “pizza days” where in-office teammates share a slice – sometimes even with the client representative, to bond on a wider scale. It may sound small, but these rituals reinforce a sense of belonging across distances.

For remote-only teams, we get creative. Yuliya Limantava, our Project Manager, describes how her team organizes online Team-Buildings:

“As a Project Manager, I’ve seen how something as simple as Game Time can become a powerful team-building tool. When we play, the competitive spirit comes out, and it fuels motivation in a fun, low-stakes way. Since we often play in English, it also gives teammates a chance to practice and improve their language skills naturally. Beyond the games themselves, we discover new sides of each other – hidden talents, creative thinking, or simply a sense of humor that doesn’t always show up in daily tasks. The time-limited nature of many gamesmirror our project deadlines, adding just enough “useful stress” to train us to stay effective under pressure. Compared to traditional coffee chats, which sometimes stall when there’s no obvious topic, Game Time is effortless – just pick a game and go. It attracts more people, sparks fresh conversations, and leaves everyone with a refreshed mood and a clearer mind. In the end, it’s not just play – it’s a short, engaging form of team building that helps us connect on a deeper level.”

Online Challenges

We foster belonging also by running lighthearted Slack challenges with cool prizes for the winners. During our last Klika Spring Challenge, our team members brought a lot of creativity and enthusiasm while completing small tasks. What were the tasks? We asked about warm-weather habits, photos of their favorite outside spots, handmade creations and even newly learned eco-habits. It helped us bond and learn a lot of interesting facts about each other!

The Culture of Feedback

Peer recognition is another cornerstone. We encourage employees to give shoutouts to colleagues who go the extra mile. These small acts of appreciation ripple across teams and geographies. That’s why we introduced a new feature in our HR system that allows us to leave feedback to someone on a daily basis, without any internal process – just like that! It’s about being flexible and giving feedback when it has the greatest impact.

But feedback at Klika Tech isn’t limited to spontaneous moments. It’s also an integral part of our performance review process. When evaluations come around, employees can nominate coworkers to provide feedback about their work. This 360-degree perspective ensures that reviews aren’t just a manager’s opinion, but a collective reflection of how someone contributes to their team and projects. It highlights strengths, surfaces growth opportunities, and gives people a broader sense of how their work is perceived.

By combining everyday peer recognition with structured feedback during reviews, we create a culture where recognition and growth go hand in hand. People feel seen for their efforts in the moment, while also receiving constructive input that helps guide their long-term development. For us, feedback isn’t about formality – it’s about building trust, supporting growth, and making sure every team member knows their contributions matter.

Klika Hobby Communities

Work brings us together, but hobbies keep us connected. At Klika Tech, we encourage people to share their passions outside of projects and deadlines, which is how our hobby communities take shape. These groups give colleagues a chance to connect on a personal level. As Stanislav Muraviev, the leader of one of our Klika Hobby Communities, focused on gathering board game enthusiasts, shares:

“These offline meetings really impact both our work and our relationships with colleagues. For many of us who have relocated, it’s not always easy to make new friends, and board game evenings provide the perfect opportunity to create social connections in a new country. I see that as one of the main reasons these gatherings are so valuable.”

What We’re Still Learning

We’re proud of our progress, but hybrid and remote are a journey, not a destination. Some challenges remain:

  • Time zones: Coordinating meetings across three continents isn’t always easy. We mitigate this with asynchronous updates and adjust the times of international meetings so that they are as convenient as possible for everyone during their working hours.
  • Internet connection issues: While rare, they remind us of the importance of redundancy – having backup tools, dial-in numbers, and flexible deadlines when tech hiccups happen.
  • Keeping team spirit alive: Remote collaboration can sometimes feel transactional. That’s why we continue experimenting with new ways to connect besides office team-buildings within a limited circle of people. Whether it is through cross-departmental coffee chats, global retreats, or shared Slack challenges, we strive to build inter-office relationships as well.

We see these challenges as opportunities. Every adjustment makes our hybrid model stronger and more resilient.

Closing Thoughts

At Klika Tech, remote and hybrid work is more than a policy – it’s a philosophy built on trust, flexibility, and connection. We’ve learned that when you empower people to work where they thrive, they bring their best selves to the table.

By investing in trust, technology, flexibility, and professional growth, we’ve crafted a system where global collaboration thrives without compromising human connection. Our Workation program, development incentives, global offices, and inclusive culture all converge to make remote work not just possible – but thriving.

Our model is still evolving, but it’s already proven that global collaboration, innovation, and personal well-being can go hand in hand. For us, hybrid isn’t just the future of work – it’s the present, and it works.