Gabriel Hocès
Gabriel Hoces says his Danish workplace is ‘very democratic’
Gabriel Hoces repeats one word seven times when he talks about what it means to work in Denmark: “trust”.
“No one is trying to micromanage you or look over your shoulder,” says Mr. Hoces, who works for a technology company in Copenhagen. “Bosses don’t come to check if you’re putting in eight or nine hours a day, because they mainly care about whether you’ve completed your projects.
“There’s a lot of trust in Denmark that way, and I don’t feel a hierarchy in my work. It’s all very democratic.”
It is no surprise to Mr Hoces, who is married with two young daughters, that Denmark is consistently among the top five countries in the world in terms of work-life balance.
Only 1.1% of Danes have to work 50 hours or more per week, according to the most recent global figures from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This is significantly lower than the global average of 10.2%.
In contrast, the figure for the UK is 10.8% and the US figure is 10.4%.
Meik Wiking, author of the book The Art of Danish Living, has long held his home country as a shining example of what other countries should aspire to emulate with their workplace policies.
“Danes are really happy at work,” he told the BBC. “Almost 60% of Danes say they would continue working if they won the lottery and became financially independent.”
Mr. Wiking, who is also the boss of the Danish think tank The Happiness Research Institute, shares several policies that help generate a strong work-life balance in Denmark.
These include the right to a minimum of five weeks of paid leave per year, in addition to public holidays. In the UK, most workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid leave, but in the US this can be as little as 11 days.
Denmark also offers a very generous six months of paid maternity and paternity leave. In the UK, the father, or partner who has not given birth, is usually given one to two weeks of paid leave.
In the United States, there is only a federal guarantee of unpaid parental leave, although some states, such as California, now offer paid leave after the birth of a child.
Meik Wiking
Meik Wiking says most Danes like to go to work
Mr. Wiking is another Dane who cites the idea that bosses trust their employees to do the right thing. He takes the example of the staff at the Tivoli Gardens amusement park in Copenhagen, where they respect the three meter rule.
The idea is that you are CEO of everything within a ten-foot radius. “If you see trash in your three-metre radius, you pick it up, and if you see a guest looking for something, you stop and ask if you can help,” Wiking says.
He adds that when employees take ownership of their own space, it can help them feel empowered and appreciated, which goes a long way in creating a healthy feeling about their workplace.
Janine Leschke, professor in the department of management, society and communication at Copenhagen Business School, says Denmark is definitely “not a work culture where you have to show up and be available all day, all evening, to show that we work hard all the time.”
Instead, she says flexibility during the workday gives employees the time they need, for example, to pick up their children from school or daycare. “There is no need for the day to officially end at five or six o’clock, and this pleases many Danes with children.”
Mr. Hoces noted that some employers in the United States may expect their staff to be available on weekends, to respond to rare emails or messages. This kind of overtime does not fit with his vision of a positive work-life balance.
“If I had to answer calls on the weekend, that would be a huge red flag for me and I would probably change jobs,” he says. “But so far this hasn’t happened to me or anyone I know.”
Casper Rouchmann, Copenhagen-based CEO and founder of technology company SparkForce, says his relaxed leadership policy would be familiar to most Danes. “You don’t need to ask me to leave early,” he said. “No one takes advantage of my kindness.”
Mr. Rouchmann adds that the element of trust is so ingrained in Danish culture that visitors to Denmark are often dismayed at how far it can go. He also highlights Denmark’s generous welfare state and the fact that companies must provide financial compensation to laid-off staff.
“If you lose your job, the government is there to help you,” adds Mr. Rouchmann.
Although other countries can learn from Denmark’s work-life balance, he says it has some drawbacks. “Some people may rely too much on this safety net, and that might make them believe that they don’t have to take real risks, which is why we may be less entrepreneurial than the United States.”
Casper Rouchmann
No one “benefits” from the generosity of bosses, says Casper Rouchman
Samantha Saxby, an American human resources expert, says Denmark enjoys a very good work-life balance because the country “prioritizes collective well-being.”
In contrast, she says the United States “has a long emphasis on individual achievement and ambition, which has led to considerable innovation, but often at the expense of work-life balance.” .
Still, Ms. Saxby, chief marketing officer of the U.S. National Human Resources Association, says businesses in the United States and elsewhere around the world may finally follow the example of Denmark and the other equally happy Nordic countries.
“Progressive organizations are introducing benefits such as unlimited paid time off, mental health days and wellness programs, to encourage employees to prioritize self-care,” she says. “These measures not only alleviate pressure, but also demonstrate that employers value the overall well-being of their workforce.
“More and more companies are recognizing that well-rested and balanced employees bring new ideas, better problem-solving skills and greater engagement. Employees begin to feel empowered to take the time they need without sacrificing career growth.
