In Denmark it is a workplace where you meet and get friends, it is a workplace where many relationships start and couples are formed. At most workplaces, there are often social events with your colleagues; they are optional but most of the people choose to be a part of those events one-way or the other. For example, something like celebrating a colleague birthday by organizing breakfast before the workday begins is something one would find everywhere. There are also common social and cultural activities outside the workplace and outside working hours. It is highly advised to participate in social life at work, for it is here that you get to know your colleagues and it is here where the ties are formed and new relationships develop.
You see - job satisfaction is not just about the academic satisfaction. In my understanding, there must be room for humor and socializing. The good atmosphere is essential. That is how we have to feel in order to do our job well. It is important that one pays attention to ones colleagues, not only as someone you work with but also as a whole individual with family, troubles and ups and downs.
When I ask “how are you doing?” I quite frankly expect an honest answer. In Denmark we talk about our lives, families, follow up with how we feel, how our children progress in activities and academics, our interests, even our sex life but for some curious reason, not our salary. Never our salary!
It is impossible to define Danish culture accurately, and that includes the culture at Danish workplace. However, there are certain common values and cultural traits that most Danes take for granted, but when we move away, we miss that a lot. In order to describe this culture I picked up some examples of job advertisement from a Danish newspaper and translated them.
"We can offer you an exciting and dynamic organization with many challenges and great breadth of tasks where dialogue, development and influence is significant keywords - all seasoned with an informal atmosphere and good mood." (Vacancy for Municipality)
Most people put being equal, having a comfort, individuality and democracy in the centrum. The tone at the workplace is quite informal compared to many other countries. So, can you imagine to read like this announcement for a job in US or Canada?
"We seek a colleague who will help to create a good and eventful days with fun, humour and seriousness to our citizens." (Vacancy for Aarhus Municipality)
Comfort is an extremely important element in the "Danish culture". The Danes say "hygge" simply can’t be translated, but sooner or later one figures out that it is closely associated with having it nice and relaxed relationship weather it is with each other or with a glass of wine and a good book (or Dancing with the stars and a beer for a younger generations). Also a humorous tone is part of the Danish favourite social conventions -preferably with a considerable irony. Some would argue even that sarcasm is the code for the Danish mentality. And if you know me, I am a perfect example of that.
"There is an informal and flat structure that allows all to get involved in important decisions " (Glostrup Hospital)
The Danes are taught to talk, to discuss and share their opinions at home, at school and on the job. Actually it is already an important aspect of life in kindergarten. This means that they are used to and expect to be heard and to influence the decisions that are made. So things like I am the boss, I said so, you do it without questioning, goes so much against our nature and the way we function at work.
And going back to the friends, we distinguishes typically between friends and acquaintances - and friends will be visible only after prolonged acquaintance. However at the end of the day, both privately and professionally, we tend to build connections that are aimed to be long-term and trust-based that we will treasure for life.
Dedicated to Jens-Arne, Torben R, Henning, Peter, Torben J. and Søren, guys, who are still in my heart as the greatest bunch of colleagues back in Denmark, I have been surrounded with
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