Is Working in Denmark REALLY as Good as They Say?

Is Working in Denmark REALLY as Good as They Say?
#denmark #Danmark #Dansk

In this video we examine the question - is working in Denmark really that great? To answer the question, we look at the potential culture clashes that you may experience while working in Denmark. These cultural differences can make things difficult for foreigners working in Denmark.

While many people working in Denmark thrive under flat management, equality, and high trust environments - there are many pitfalls and culture shocks that come with it. We describe the culture clashes of a Danish workplace that you will want to avoid if you are working in Denmark as a foreigner.

Many foreigners in Denmark take some time to adjust to a Danish workplace, and we hope this video will aid in the process. While we enjoy working in a Danish office, the work culture in Denmark is unique. Unless you grew up in it or have been living in Denmark for a long time, a Danish workplace can have some downsides, potential pitfalls, and some major culture clashes.

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[CarstenSvendsen]

As a dane, when I started working in New Zealand, I was basically an apprentice due to my license stuff and I always asked my superviser why we did it this way or that way. He always got annoyed with me and basically was like "just do as I tell you to" with no explanation given. It was the most frustrating thing ever.

[Norseraider]

This channel is the absolute perfect channel for danish self awareness for us Danes 😂❤️
Thank you once again guys, for another fantastic video ❤️🤘🏻

[Unpronounceable_H]

One of the best things ever said to me in a recommendation was “always manages to ask the right questions”. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in a Danish workplace.

[Duspende]

One big thing to remember about off-color or "ill seen" jokes and humor in Denmark, is that oftentimes the statements of the joke are actually ironic. The joke might not be aiming to poke fun at the very real problems the joke contains, but the joke is funny because "Could you imagine actually being the kind of person who says stuff like that and means it?", and as such the joke isn't actually the statement, but poking fun at people who make such statements unironically.

[victimedelamode]

After a while of not knowing for certain, I am at least moving to Copenhagen as a Philadelphian! These workplaces clashes are relieving to hear for me in a sense as I greatly value a horizontal structure. Having the chance to visit Copenhagen and my future workplace recently, there was no doubt in my mind to make the move. Although it will be difficult, what I have seen in my time there and in conversations with Danes as well as your videos has shown me that Danish society holds in great importance many of my own personal values.

[lisbethfrost]

As a Dane, I experienced this culture clash when I moved to Germany. My team was white males aged 28 to 65. I had to explain to them why I didn’t micromanage and how I trusted them to be the experts providing their deliverables in the right quality at the right time to the right stakeholders. And if they would encounter roadblocks, I would expect them to come to me and let me sort it out for them. They were amazed and a bit suspicious when I also told them that as long as they did their jobs well, I didn’t mind how, when and where they were working from. They grew to accept and even like my management style. A few years later, I started over with a French team, but I was better equipped to handle it.
Today I manage a melting pot of ten different nationalities on three continents, and after Covid lockdowns and with a time span of 12 hours we collaborate without any issues.

[xeniagammelgaard]

honestly this is quite fun to watch even for a danish person like me 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 i love you're guys effort to make these kind of videos!

[kennethfribert]

I've never worked a place where I was expected to be able to perform 100% from day 1, I'm an IT guy, and there is an acceptance that in the beginning of an employment, you just cost money. What IS expected is that you ask for help and guidance. And the first day you go home from work and KNOW today I earned my keep, is incredible. And i've never put a picture on a CV, but my name is very also danish / german :-) I'm so old that the annoyance of pictures on CV's are a later idea than when I started my career, so I've always just ignored it.

[carstenf]

In Denmark common sense rules. Management is on their backfoot - because the employees sometimes care more about the company - and its success - than the management who have more egoistic priorities. Bad management could be described like hooking up a train to a concrete block rather than a locomotive. Sometimes the (well educated) employees can go faster than than management.

[BenjaminVestergaard]

My ex entered her current job with a quite different mentality than the majority. In her mind, it was all a competition, which doesn't exactly match the Danish thinking that we're on the same team.

Anyway, you are entirely right that not everyone understand the complications that comes with non-EU staff. And regarding work/life, i never felt weird about those that show up early to be able to also leave early, that's the good thing about this the flexibility.

But I can understand that it may be frustrating to a manager when there's only 4-6 good hours a day to place a meeting. And you have to answer why, and everyone has some feedback to consider... Makes it really difficult to be a dictator.

Like it or not, statistics say that Danes are very efficient once they're at work.

[louieg.]

As someone who is from the Philippines, at a BPO work with my bosses or POCs are Danes, I can definitely agree that the type of management really delights me. It's very different and amazing that Westerners or western companies that has BPO here in the PH treats us as colleagues and NOT a cheap workforces that is lower than them that I had experienced in other companies I work with. I wished they are our direct management here. We're are still managed by the local people here.

[Mark-xhmd]

I also don't think it's reasonable to criticize that you can't vote in Danish elections when you're not a Danish citizen. The same is the case in the US!

It is super interesting to hear how Danish stuff works observed from non native danes. I just changed work place. In the interview we never really talked about my skills and the job tasks. Everyone just assumed that I was the right fit for the job. I asked my boss the other day how much he expected to get notified of where I was and what I was doing as it was a new work place. He just said as little as possible. I might check your calender from time to time.

Keep up the videoes.

[Nudel]

Mike: how did you manage your role as manager in the beginning compared to how you manage it now? Also, how did you react when the employees gave you their opinion, in the beginning?

[anneuldahl]

The good thing about the flat structure is that you can challenge the way things are done too Just don't slam in the doors rigth away. Observe, ask and understand, and then you can always come with constructive suggestions for new or better ways to do things. Many companies are small and under constant development, and being new is always a great way to provide valuable input and question how and why things are being done. Similar you can also bring input and observations forward to your boss (but always trust your own judgement).

[powerupminion]

Hello, Dane here. 🙋‍♂
The abserlute first point at 0:23 is understandebly a bit of a mouthful for those that is not used to having responsibility, but the general rule in danish work culture (and most other European work cultures too) is that everyone is expected to do thair best and help the company as a whole even outside thair respective seat. If a gap presents itself, you fill it in, alert management, maybe even help them solve the issue and worklife goes on. You are now a very functioning member of the company and have helped make it a better/easyer place to be for everyone involved.

[choddle]

I find it both hilarious and a little sad that “people are expecting to be heard by their managers” was one of the culture clashes. That really speaks a lot about the work culture in the USA, in my opinion.

But I am glad to hear that you seemed to have adapted to that as a manager, Mike. I’m sure your employees appreciate that :)

[Joliie]

I used to work for a US company in DK, they had a diversity policy that you should choose diversity, not over qualification, but sometimes it sounded like it was more important than qualification. Also a lot of inclusion talk and initiatives, so not that bad, on the other hand, when I started there back in the late 2000s I got the company value sheet, including what would get you fired and one of those were, you may not discriminated Vietnam veterans, which I fully agree with, just not sure I ever meet one though. I once had a teacher that moved from the US to Europe to avoid the draft for Vietnam, not sure that counts :) a funny little note on culture differences.

[annemettefrederiksen]

Just to be clear, if you apply for a job and the company has an agreement with the union managing that specific type of work, its not allowed by the person having the interview to ask about your family situation, especially if they are trying to wiggle out of you if you have or are planning to have children in the future And generally eventhough we are informal in DK, I dont know many that will find it relevant to ask for such information..

[SuiGenerisAbbie]

Again, you educate we Americans about living, working and eating abroad, especially if we Americans will never give the chance to go, or live abroad.
Thank you, always! 😊 ✌