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Remote Work in 2025: Why location no longer defines a great workplace


  • 19 November 2025
  • BPTW News
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The modern workplace is still evolving, and the debate over remote work continues to dominate headlines—even within our Best Places to Work community. Is it better to be hybrid? Fully in the office? Or fully remote?

If you’ve been caught in this back-and-forth, here’s the most important truth defining the leading organizations today: The debate about location is fundamentally missing the point.

What began as a temporary pandemic measure has transformed into a long-term question of culture, connection, and trust. The true answer to what makes a "Best Place to Work" isn't found on a floor plan; it’s found in leadership and organizational design.

What the Best Workplaces are doing now

Organizations consistently recognized as Best Places to Work share a profound understanding: success is defined by how employees feel about their work, not where they perform it.

Whether embracing remote, hybrid, or in-office models, these companies prioritize three critical, non-negotiable factors: employee engagement, deep trust, and a strong sense of belonging.

These leaders don't treat flexibility as a burden; they see it as a powerful strategic tool. They design strategies that intentionally combine flexibility with purpose, ensuring employees have the autonomy to work at their best while still feeling deeply connected to their teams and the broader company mission.

Flexibility is your core cultural strength

The best employers today don’t view flexibility as a temporary perk—they see it as a core element of their competitive culture.

By offering their teams choice and autonomy, they signal the highest level of trust. And trust, as we know, is the ultimate engine of employee loyalty and sustained motivation.

In today’s competitive talent market, this mindset is the definitive differentiator. It helps organizations attract and retain the kind of people who thrive in dynamic, values-driven environments. When employees feel trusted to manage their time and location, they are empowered to perform at their highest level, maintaining a balance that drives long-term success.

The future of work demands human-centric leadership

Ultimately, the argument around remote versus office work is less about logistics and far more about leadership maturity.

The organizations that will truly thrive in 2025 and beyond are those focused on the human experience. If you’re a leader striving for the Best Places to Work status, consistently ask yourself:

  1. Are you centered on Employee Experience? Is your strategy built around the well-being and consistent engagement of your teams?
  2. Is your Communication Open? Are you fostering transparent, continuous dialogue with your workforce, regardless of time zones or locations?
  3. Do you cultivate Shared Purpose? Is every employee actively connected to the company’s overarching mission and the value they provide?

Recognizing excellence in Remote Work

As remote work continues to shape the global workforce, many organizations are proving that distance doesn’t diminish culture—it can strengthen it. Through the Best Places to Work for Remote Workers program, these companies are recognized for redefining what great workplaces look like in the modern era.

They demonstrate that connection, engagement, and purpose can thrive anywhere when built on a foundation of trust and inclusion. These are the organizations setting new benchmarks for flexibility, belonging, and productivity — proving that a truly great workplace isn’t a building; it’s a feeling.

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Inside Pluxee Romania: A Culture of Purpose and Belonging

  • Success story
  • 5m

Inside Pluxee Romania: A Culture of Purpose and Belonging

Learn how Pluxee’s people-first approach creates an environment where everyone can grow and succeed.

Pluxee Romania
Pluxee Romania

At Pluxee, we believe that work should be more than just a place - it should be a purpose. As a leader in employee benefits and engagement solutions, our mission is to help people thrive at work and in life.


  • Leadership

With a presence in over 29 countries, we serve millions of employees and thousands of organizations, delivering personalized experiences that foster well-being, motivation, and belonging

How you actively engage and empower your employees

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We actively cultivate a culture of trust, inclusion, and growth by:

  • Encouraging open dialogue and feedback through regular engagement surveys and recurrent departmental meetings and 121s.
  • Supporting career development with tailored learning paths, mentoring programs, and internal mobility opportunities.
  • Promoting wellbeing through flexible work arrangements, mental health resources, and recognition initiatives that celebrate everyday contributions.

We empower our teams to take ownership, innovate, and make an impact—because when our people grow, our business grows.

The most pressing HR challenges your industry faces today

The HR landscape is evolving rapidly, and our industry faces several pressing challenges:

  • Attracting and retaining talent in a competitive market where employee expectations are shifting.
  • Building inclusive workplaces that reflect diverse perspectives and foster psychological safety.
  • Keeping hybrid work models while maintaining engagement, collaboration, and culture.
  • Leveraging technology to enhance employee experience without losing the human touch.

At Pluxee, we address these challenges by staying agile, listening to our people, and continuously evolving our practices.

HR & CSR Director
Florentina Ciontea

HR & CSR Director

Examples of teamwork activities or initiatives that strengthen collaboration

Collaboration is a cornerstone of our success. We invest in initiatives that bring people together across functions and geographies, such as:

  • Pluxee Ambassadors Program – empowering employees to champion our brand and values internally and externally. It brings together passionate employees from across the organization who embody our values and champion our culture.
  • Cross-functional workshops and initiatives, where teams co-create solutions to real business challenges. We believe that the best ideas emerge when diverse minds come together. Our cross-functional initiatives are designed to break silos and spark innovation.
  • Our culture is vibrant, inclusive, and worth celebrating. Pluxee hosts a variety of online and in-person events that bring our people together. These events are more than just gatherings—they’re opportunities to strengthen our community, spark meaningful conversations, and reinforce the values that make Pluxee a great place to work.

These initiatives foster a sense of unity, purpose, and shared achievement.

Your reflections on the Best Places to Work certification journey

Earning the Best Place to Work certification is more than a badge—it’s a reflection of our people’s voices. This journey has been one of introspection, celebration, and continuous improvement. It validated what we’re doing well and highlighted areas where we can grow. Most importantly, it reaffirmed our belief that a great workplace is built on trust, transparency, and care.

Advice you would offer to other organizations considering certification

If you're thinking about pursuing the Best Place to Work certification, here’s our advice:

Start with listening. Understand what matters most to your people.

Be authentic. Culture isn’t built overnight—it’s shaped by consistent actions and values.

Use the process as a catalyst. Certification is not the end goal; it’s a powerful tool for transformation.

Celebrate the journey. Recognize the efforts of your teams and share your story proudly.

Empowering People, Advancing Health: Inside Mēness Aptieka’s Journey as a Best Place to Work

  • Success story
  • 5m

Empowering People, Advancing Health: Inside Mēness Aptieka’s Journey as a Best Place to Work

Learn how Mēness Aptieka creates an exceptional workplace by combining care, professional growth, and inclusivity — ensuring every employee feels valued, supported, and inspired to make a lasting impact on public health.

Mēness Aptieka
Mēness Aptieka

“Mēness aptieka” is one of the leading pharmacy and pharmaceutical service companies in Latvia, operating more than 250 pharmacies across the country. Our mission is to be accessible and close by, responsibly caring for and protecting the health of the Latvian people. Each year, we provide pharmaceutical care services to over 10 million customers. “Mēness aptieka” is among the largest employers in the field, employing more than 1200 professionals.


  • Leadership
  • Employee Wellbeing

We are committed to promoting the health of Latvia’s population by maintaining high professional standards and supporting initiatives that strengthen public health and health literacy. Research shows that we are the most loved brand in Latvia’s pharmaceutical sector, as well as a highly valued employer, with our pharmacists receiving prestigious national-level professional awards.

How you actively engage and empower your employees

The work of a pharmacist is, first and foremost, a profession devoted to providing assistance and support to people in matters of health. To ensure they can carry this out with excellence, we, as an employer, provide all the necessary conditions, support, and a culture of professional collaboration. We take care to offer practical working conditions, comfortable work and rest areas, a positive environment, ergonomic workplaces, and opportunities for professional growth.

This year, employees rated most highly the management’s collaboration with teams across departments, opportunities for growth, as well as openness to innovation and involvement in sustainable pharmacy development projects.

Successfully balancing work with family life, maintaining good health, feeling secure in a supportive work environment, and working close to home are among the key factors that define employee well-being and opportunities at “Mēness aptieka”. Professional development opportunities, organizational culture, and values are playing an increasingly important role in employees’ choices. It is our shared values and dedication to people’s health that we, as a team, appreciate the most – and that motivate us every day to become better, more accessible, and even more professional.

It is important for us that our pharmacists see opportunities for growth, continuous learning, and professional development – both in pharmaceutical care for customers and in their careers overall. For example, in 2024, “Mēness aptieka” colleagues dedicated more than 26 000 hours to professional training and development with the company’s support. An important part of our continuing education efforts is also our retraining programs, which allow people from other industries to become pharmacist assistants or pharmacists – a process we actively support as an employer.

An inclusive environment is equally important today. The healthcare sector brings together people of different generations and experiences – from young specialists to colleagues returning from work abroad or after a career break. Embracing and valuing this diversity is not only an ethical choice but also a strategic advantage that fosters greater flexibility and innovation. To create a comfortable, pleasant, and ergonomic work environment for our employees, we dedicate significant attention and investment to improving and renovating our pharmacies, as well as implementing various digital solutions.

The most pressing HR challenges your industry faces today

Our surveys show that pharmacies and pharmacists are already seen as the most accessible healthcare professionals in Latvia. Apart from emergency hospital care, pharmacies are currently almost the only places within the healthcare system where people can seek advice and assistance without a prior appointment. The role of pharmaceutical professionals in the overall healthcare system – and in ensuring its resilience – is particularly important, and we see that this role will continue to grow.

Employee shortages are a reality that most companies in Latvia face today. In the healthcare and services sector, this challenge is becoming increasingly pronounced, creating risks for the accessibility of these services. Employers who can offer not only competitive remuneration and social security, but also a sustainable organizational culture – with a clear mission, strong values, and an environment that supports professional fulfillment and employee engagement – gain a distinct advantage.

For this reason, we are investing significant effort in developing and embedding shared values and strong internal culture that supports every employee’s growth, involvement, and accountability in achieving our common goals.

The sustainability and development of healthcare professionals are not solely the responsibility of employers but a matter of public interest. Sustainable healthcare is not possible without strong, motivated, and well-supported professionals. The experience of “Mēness aptieka” demonstrates that sustainable healthcare starts with the development, support, and respect of employees. Investing in people pays back through better public health – something we, as a company, witness every day.

Examples of teamwork activities or initiatives that strengthen collaboration

“Mēness aptieka” has developed effective internal communication tools and activities designed not only to keep employees informed about current updates, but also to encourage engagement and participation. We regularly organize various professional, educational, and qualification-enhancing courses and seminars.

We also focus on team-building activities – organizing events for employees and their families. In addition, we provide opportunities for employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as regular health check-ups, access to healthy meals at work, participation in physical activities, and various sports events. Every employee at “Mēness aptieka” receives health insurance.

Health-promoting activities are especially popular – the “Mēness aptieka” team, together with their family members, is well represented at events such as the “Stirnu buks” trail run and the “Rimi Riga marathon”. Warm holiday greetings are never forgotten, and one of the most anticipated events of the year is the annual company ball, featuring awards, acknowledgements, and gifts for employees and their children. Special recognition is given to our long serving “golden” employees who have been part of the company for more than 20 years.

We also place great emphasis on helping employees maintain a healthy work–life balance. There are opportunities to work closer to home, and depending on the position, employees can also work remotely or take advantage of flexible or part-time schedules.

For nine years, the company has been investing in the pharmacist assistant study program, and new specialists have become an important support in the daily work of our pharmacies. We ensure that employees have opportunities for internal growth and actively provide the means to achieve it.

Our employees also greatly value the chance to participate in the company’s social responsibility initiatives – offering both professional and emotional support through events and activities that assist para-athletes, people with special needs, seniors, and other vulnerable groups in society.

Your reflections on the Best Places to Work certification journey

Every success we achieve starts with our people - our pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, and all colleagues, who live with our values and bring commitment to society into daily work. 

This recognition gives us motivation to keep moving forward: to support our employees, improve how we work, and find better ways to care for our communities. Our goal is simple and at the same time very important – to provide pharmaceutical care that people can truly rely on for their health and well-being. We are proud of this recognition and see it as inspiration. By creating the best environment in our pharmacies, we make sure our employees feel supported. Only then can they give the best care to our clients and patients. Caring for our people is how we build a healthier Latvia.

 Vilma Fairclough
Vilma Fairclough

Chairwoman of the board of “Mēness aptieka”

Goal-oriented, continuous development-based teamwork gives us the opportunity to achieve such success. The multi-level analysis of our company as a workplace, conducted as part of the Best Places to Work program evaluation, is a thorough review of our operational processes and the positive evaluation confirms that we truly meet the status of a top workplace. We carefully review the assessment and take into account the recommendations provided by the program’s experts. This recognition motivates us to set higher goals and continue improving so that, in line with the latest trends in personnel development and the industry`s work environment, the company is the best possible workplace for our employees and the number one choice in the pharmaceutical sector.

 Baiba Pedraudze
Baiba Pedraudze

HR director at “Mēness aptieka"

Advice you would offer to other organizations considering certification

We encourage everyone to see this process as an opportunity for growth. Certification provides a valuable external perspective on company culture, employee engagement, and management practices. It helps us recognize our strengths and identify areas where we can continue to improve.

In our view, maintaining openness is crucial – listening to our teams, analyzing feedback, and applying these lessons to enhance employee well-being, as they are the foundation not only of a better work environment but also of sustainable company growth. This certification is not only a recognition of what we have achieved but also a roadmap for the future – an opportunity to become even better employers and colleagues for our employees, customers, and the wider community.

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