The big debates around remote vs. on-site work have quieted down a bit — and for us, that’s the perfect time to share why we at Kodality prefer working from the office, both in Tallinn and Tartu.

Not just lately. Not just during some experimental phase. But for all seven years Kodality has existed. (With the small exception of COVID times, when, like everyone else, we followed government recommendations and worked remotely for a while).

Learning never stops — and it’s better together

We prioritize learning. In fact, 48% of our people have studied or are currently studying while working at Kodality. But we value something even more than formal education: learning at work, and learning from each other. People are the most valuable part of Kodality — and so are their knowledge, their curiosity, and their willingness to share what they know.

You know that feeling when you’re explaining something deeply technical to a teammate, and then you see them using it the next day? Feels pretty great. Even better? When they ask a question that pushes the topic further. Even better? When the question is so good that you have to go figure it out first.

Maybe you can do that remotely. But our experience says otherwise. That “quick question” you had? Suddenly it doesn’t feel urgent enough to write a message about. The reply you’re waiting for? You know they’re busy, so maybe you hesitate to ask next time. The learning moment? Missed.

People are people

We’re people. And people need people. We spend a third of our day at work — it’s only natural that the workplace becomes part of our social life. At Kodality, we don’t believe a workplace is just a desk and a decent coffee machine. It’s a space to grow, to learn, and to be part of a supportive community.

Community that:

• understands your questions and frustrations

• cheers you on when something works

• lifts you up when it doesn’t

Sometimes, being part of that community shows up in the smallest ways: a kind word, a shared joke, a candy left on your keyboard.

Ever solved a technical problem while making coffee? Yeah, us too. Would you send that same random idea to a colleague while brewing coffee at home? Hmm… less likely.

Sure, all of this can be debated. But here’s something harder to argue with: non-verbal communication doesn’t translate well to remote. A smile, a raised eyebrow, a silent “aha!” — sometimes, those say more than a Slack message ever could.

We just enjoy being together

Whether we’re talking about our current projects or someone’s latest vacation, we genuinely enjoy spending time together as a team. Because otherwise — how would you know…

• that Rafael Nadal is retiring?

• that the car museum in Riga is absolutely worth visiting?

• how to bake the best brownies in the world?

At Kodality, we put a lot of care into hiring the best people. And that means not just professionals — but people. With stories to tell, jokes to share, and surprising facts to casually drop. Working from the office at Kodality means:

• having lunch and talking about padel game we’re having tonight

• someone quoting a random phrase, and others singing that old song

• buying two cakes instead of one, just because your teammate deserves it too

No strict rules

One of the perks of being a small company? No need for strict policies or headcount quotas. We trust people to know what they need. If your kid has a special event at school, if you’re having a tough day physically, if the repair guy is finally coming between 12 and 6 — work from home. There’s no rulebook for how many remote days are allowed.

Instead, we’re working on something bigger: making the office a place people actually want to come to.

Being together helps us deliver better — every day

All of these small things — the quick questions, the coffee break ideas, the spontaneous problem-solving, the sense of community — they add up to something bigger. They help us live our values: Deliver Meaningful Value and Quality First.

At Kodality, we believe exceptional quality doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built in the daily moments: in conversations, in teamwork, in trust.

When we’re together, we spot problems earlier. We solve issues faster. We help each other sharpen ideas, find better solutions, and build better products. If something doesn’t work or a challenge comes up, we don’t lose time. We gather around a screen, share insights, and fix it — often finding a better way forward than any one person could alone. It’s about being ready, present, and focused on delivering real results, right when they are needed most.