More than just a meeting: Why workaways are the heart of our culture

I went from a new hire who’d never heard the term “workaway” to now planning these trips myself. From ski slopes in Åre to sofas in Marstrand, these shared moments are the secret ingredient in our unique culture and team spirit.

It was April 2022, and I had just signed my employment contract with 84codes when my new manager and colleague, Linnea, reached out and asked if I wanted to join an upcoming workaway. This invitation came even before my first official day. As a recent business graduate, I found the term new, but the warm welcome meant it quickly found a special place in my heart.

For those of you reading this who might be like I was back then - unfamiliar with the term “workaway” - let me explain briefly. Because it really is so much more than just a conference.

Bridging the distance in a remote-first world

84codes is a remote-first company, and we place a very high value on freedom in both time and space. Naturally, this comes with its challenges: how do you build and maintain a team spirit when your colleagues aren’t in the same city, or even the same time zone?

Our workaways are, to say the least, a huge part of the answer. Being able to sink into a sofa with a laptop and tackle problems or brainstorm ideas together is worth its weight in gold. And instead of typical conference coffee breaks, the focus is heavily on team building. Sometimes that means clicking into our skis and hitting the slopes together; other times it’s a round of golf, glassblowing, or snowshoeing. Or, we might just spend the evening playing board games together.

Simply put, it’s a few days or a week (you choose which; as I mentioned, we value a healthy work-life balance) of quality time together.

From attendee to architect

Four years have passed since I first heard the term “workaway,” and I’ve just returned to the office after a fantastic week in Åre with the team. It’s a trip I’ve been responsible for planning, just like so many others since I started at 84codes.

Planning a workaway for a fully remote company is quite a challenge. We are now 48 colleagues spread across the globe. For some, a workaway involves a trip across the Atlantic to an exciting destination offering brand-new experiences - like seeing snow for the first time or trying out skiing. For others, we might be visiting what is essentially their own backyard. Finding a setup that creates value for everyone isn’t always easy.

The logistics of connection

There’s also a fair amount of logistics involved. Next up is a visit to Marstrand, an island on the Swedish west coast, in August. The plan is for those who can to take the train from Stockholm to Gothenburg, where a bus will be waiting. Once the bus drops us off at the ferry terminal for the boat ride over to the island, the travel part of the journey is complete.

But there are so many little things to consider when traveling far for work, like making sure our colleagues traveling from other parts of the world pack suitable clothing for the Swedish weather, as well as basics like food for the journey. In the end, it’s about so much more than just getting from point A to point B.

After we finally reach our destination, a few days of work and team-building activities await, but I’m keeping the details a surprise for my colleagues for a little while longer.

The real secret to our success

Sometimes, in the middle of all the planning, I often ask myself: how is this workaway ever going to top the last one? But honestly, I don’t need to worry.

Every time we meet, it becomes clear that it’s not the new locations, the thrilling activities, or the great food that truly matter. It’s the people and the amazing culture we’ve built together that make every workaway unique. It’s a feeling and an experience you can’t force through planning, no matter how hard you try - it’s just there the moment we see each other.

Thanks for stopping by!

/Ebba

PS. If you’re looking for inspiration or suitable locations for an off-site or workaway in Sweden, feel free to check out some of the places we’ve visited over the years:

• 2026 - Winter. Hallfjället
• 2025 - Fall. Högbo Brukshotell
• 2025 - Winter. Kittelfjäll
• 2024 - Fall. Korunda
• 2024 - Winter. Hemavan & Tärnaby
• 2023 - Fall. Yasuragi
• 2023 - Winter. Icehotel — 10 year anniversary!
• 2022 - Winter. Åre
• 2020 - Christmas. Online
• 2020 - Fall. Åre
• 2020 - Spring. Djurönäset
• 2019 - Christmas. Stockholm

84codes is the team behind LavinMQ. The same remote-first culture and sustainable pace that powers our workaways also helps us keep building, improving, and supporting LavinMQ for the long run.