Culture
Handbook
(The manual is illustrated with pictures from our WhatsApp group)
Part 1 – Who we are
Dear friend, you are warmly welcome to discover the Fabrik way of being, living and doing meaningful work together.
Greetings from our CEO
“Fabrik exists to change things for the better. We have always gone the extra mile to ensure that the strategies we design, the concepts we crystallise, the campaigns and creative solutions we come up with, have maximum impact. Now the goal is clear and shared by all. The sustainability crisis is challenging our entire economic system, our concept of well-being, our very existence.
We believe that business is the key to the solution. Without new business models and compelling brand stories, people cannot be persuaded to change their lifestyles and society cannot be persuaded to reform its structures. Not fast enough and not on a large enough scale. Science has already done its part, everyone knows what needs to be done. Now we need to influence people’s opinions and attitudes. Get people to think, motivate them to change, inspire them to get involved. That’s what we’ve always been best at.”
With love, Perttu
(Photo: The B for Good Leaders meeting brought together 1200 leaders from 50 countries and us in Amsterdam May 2024.)
Story
We have deep roots in marketing and communication. And we are still very passionate with the creative stuff. Our own transformation started for many years ago with purpose-driven marketing and in some point we realized that it was not enough: we have to help our customers to really change – not only start communications about their purpose.
When we met the B Corp movement we fell in love.
There is a holistic way and community for the companies who really want to create a better future for the planet, people and business. So here we are – we are helping other companies and organizations to respond possibility to make better business and we still can use our creative roots. For the change – we have to inspire the customers, stakeholders and workers to join in.
(Timo at Copenhagen airport on his way home from B Leader training, 2022)
Proud to 
It means we meet the highest verified standards of social & environmental performance, transparency & accountability. We have two B Leaders who are trained to help others to join the movement. *Why B Corp? We promise you, this one is a good one.
(In the photo, Markus is enjoying a spring day in the wilderness of Kilpisjärvi)
Impact Strategy
We have only one strategy. It includes our impact business model and our own operations. The strategy is divided into four pillars, and we are constantly developing our work through the B Corp Assessment.
Identify your current influences, both negative and positive, and focus on the most relevant ones using double materiality assessment
Adapt your actions to minimise the negative and maximise the positive impact
Identify what is essential for sustainability and clean up harmful and unnecessary practices
Take advantage of the results of your sustainability work by communicating in a transparent and inspiring way
Goals and metrics 2024–2026:
Values
Create a positive handprint
Every project is an opportunity for us to change things for the better, at team level or on a global scale. We always aim for the biggest possible impact.
Let’s have some fun
The world is not changed by intimidation or blame, but by inspiring people to get involved. We cherish freedom, courage and playfulness.
Increase peace of mind
Respectful communication and responsible attitude allow us to choose balance instead of rushing around. Either we run the day, or the day runs us.
(Photo: Hey, we have similar clothes, Jonna and Jenni noticed)
What is it like to work at Fabrik?
Fabrik is a community that offers you the opportunity to make a difference in changing the world for the better.
But it doesn’t come easy. There are many demands, and the continuous development is essential. This work is good for ambitious, curious, and self-initiative people.
For our people the most meaningful things are: Highlights from our staff survey December 2022
”Good feedback, customers’ confidence in your work, small places changing the world & people’s thinking, open debate on important issues.”
”Being part of this journey. I see promoting responsible business as a job I really want to do.”
”Making real progress towards your goals and gaining access to concrete tools through B Leader Training and the contacts made there”
”A new focus, direction, leadership, the opportunity to be the change and the example.”
(Photo is from the filming of the brand film made by Fabrik for the Helsinki Central Railway Station)
Part 2 – how we work
Our culture is a work in progress. We refine our culture further as we learn more.
Teams
We work in two teams. One is responsible for sustainability strategies and business development, and the other for distinctive creative solutions and marketing communications that deliver competitive advantage.
Both teams are made up of passionate professionals dedicated to creating relevant and impactful solutions that last. Through our extensive and trusted network of partners, we are able to provide sustainability services ranging from strategy work to marketing communication solutions.
It’s Lean
Most of our projects follow the Lean process. It ensures that we do our work with purpose and with real impact. All our projects are in one place: project management software brings together CRM, project management, time tracking and invoicing.
In this link you can find all our processes. Note Access only for Fabrik employees.
Data Collection
We do a lot of data gathering and measuring for our customers but also of our own actions and impact.
Taking care of our staff
We conduct an employee experience survey every three months. This is how we monitor our values, balance and vibe of our people.
Measuring the results and impact of our projects
At the end of each project we do a smaller pulse survey with our clients to see what has gone well and what we can do better in the future.
Code of Conduct
As a B Corp certified company, we are committed to taking into account all stakeholders in our operations and decision-making and to making a positive contribution to society and the environment. This is also enshrined in our Articles of Association.
(Teemu at the Central Railway Station, summer 2024)
Benefits
- All apply to all fabrik employees. Including part-time employees.
- All employees at Fabrik are entitled to an E-passi. The amount of the e-passi is 125 € / 6 months (recharged in January and July) and includes exercise and wellness services
- Employment Relationship bike: we have signed a contract with GoByBike. All permanent and temporary employees are now eligible to purchase an employee bike through the service. The amount is deducted from the salary in monthly installments.
- All the workers are insured with leisure time personal accident insurance.
- Extensive occupational health care, available throughout Finland.
- The bonus is payed in January of every year and is margin-targeted, meaning that by reducing purchases, finding additional sales and doing things efficiently, we can all contribute to success.
Orientation
This culture handbook is essential when new employees start in our business with us. This is a work in progress but we see it as a journey of several important steps:
- before recruitment
- recruitment phase
- before starting work (preboarding)
- reception and first day
- first week [orientation]
- first month [onboarding]
- end of probationary period
- end of employment
Ergonomic policies: Ville, Perttu ja Miksu -kuva (Archiving furniture at the Helsinki office 2024
Ergonomic Policies
Ergonomics makes it easier to work. Things that we should consider every now and then:
- Vary your working posture throughout the day and maintain a good working posture
- Take a break from sitting by standing up at least every 30 minutes
- Sit in a good position: Keep your heels on the floor, lean on the backrest of the chair, keep forearms supported on chair arms or table at 90° angle
- Adjust the height of the desk, the chair, and lighting to the workstation
- Your body needs a wide range of movement
- Recreational exercise helps you to recover from the working day
- Constant repetition of the same movement can cause pain and strain injuries
- Your own fitness has an impact on how stressed you feel
- In our office we have stand-up tables, stand-up cushions, gymnastics balls, etc – let’s use them intentionally
- Our work is supported by a wide range of occupational health services from a private provider. Our contract also includes physiotherapeutic services. So, let’s ask for help with a low threshold
- Check if your ergonomics is good >
- Tips for better back health >
Weekly Planning
We have offices in Joensuu and Helsinki – and we love to work face to face whenever it is possible. Still, we are very open to the idea that work goes with the rest of life. Some of us might live partly in Lapland or Amsterdam.
That is why there are guidelines in our week planning. On Mondays, the workday begins at 8:15 with a joint weekly meeting that everyone attends via teams or at the office. From Tuesday to Friday, everyone should be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All meetings will be scheduled between 8 a.m and 4 p.m. Even if someone wants to work in the evening, no commitment is required and meetings will be scheduled to end before 16.00.
The calendar is filled in proactively and distributed from the settings to all Fabrik members for viewing. Calendars are checked out at team meetings on Fridays. Again, work is only part of our lives, and our work time is flexible in use (+/- 20 h).
Remote work with environmental focus
Remote working is not only efficient and sometimes relaxing, but also an ecological choice. But to be ecological, we have to be more focused. For example, keep all driving to a minimum on a remote working day – prefer walking and cycling if possible! Here are some principles to consider when remote working.
(Jonna on a train journey to the Helsinki office 2024)
- We use paperless virtual offices
- We recycle – at home and at the office
- We prefer environmentally friendly products and practices
- Reduce energy usage and purchase energy that is produced from renewable sources locally, if available
- Use an energy efficient room as home office
- Set the heating to 19–21°C and use a thermostat programmer to control the timing of heating
- Use long life efficient bulbs or LED lamps and light dimmers on all wall, ceiling and desk mounted appliances
- Use “task lighting” by lighting just the working area at a higher level and providing background lighting at a lower level for the rest of the space, to minimise the amount of electric light being used
- Check energy ratings before purchasing new appliances and equipment
- Turn off all electrical devices in the office at the end of each working session (lights, computers, printers)
- Working tools are recycled via office, otherwise you can check more info for e-waste here >
Ability to Work
It is important that you only work when you are healthy, for yourself and so as not to infect others. If an employee gets sick, he or she may stay home for two days with informing their supervisor. For sick leave of more than two days, there must be either a nurse’s or doctor’s certificate from the third day of illness (the certificate also includes temporary sick leave due to the child’s illness from the third day) for a total of 1-9 days.
We work in an industry where mental wellbeing is everything. As a community, we keep an eye on everyone’s wellbeing and are sensitive to any signs of exhaustion. The main responsibility for this lies with the management team and their caring for work-life balance. Occupational health also covers the services of a psychologist if necessary.
(Kiia skiing on the mountains, Kiilopää 2024)
Keep Things Tidy
When using the kitchen or the meeting rooms, the guidelines are clear: Your parents don’t work here.
- Don’t leave extra stuff in the office
- In a tidy environment, thoughts run faster
- Put used dishes in the dishwasher, start the full machine
- Remove clean dishes from the dishwasher
- Take a full rubbish bag to the bin and put a new bag in its place
- Take your old food out of the fridge
- Take lunch boxes back home (limited cupboard space in the kitchen)
- Always recycle
(In the photo, Timo’s egg, 2024)
Success is not about achieving the goals but about every step into the right direction.
