26/10/2025
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐ญ๐๐๐ฆ?
That's one of the questions Kay Xander Mellish was asked in the latest edition of The International Denmark.
Kay responded:
"Lots of talking!
"The Danes are so intent on equality that they want to make sure everyone has their say, and that can take a while.
"If you come from a hierarchical culture โ and most cultures are much more hierarchical than Denmark โ it can be a big step to realize that you must treat everyone as an equal, whether it is the coffee lady, the student helper, or the big boss.
"A lot of newcomers put a foot wrong by being sharp and demanding with people below them on the corporate ladder, or unctuous and simpering to people above them. Both are huge turn-offs to their Danish colleagues."
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ?
"The most common faux pas I have seen by far is newcomers thinking they need to work extra hours to prove they are committed to the job.
"With notable exceptions, like peak seasons and project launches, you donโt have to work beyond the hours you are paid for in Denmark. If you do, you should get compensatory time off.
"Danes really value their free time; itโs one of the few things the government canโt tax! They take every day of their vacation, with their managerโs encouragement."
Read the full article in The International Denmark. Link below.
