Mr. Viking is another Dane who cites the concept of bosses trusting their employees to do the right thing. He uses the example of staff at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, where they follow the three-metre rule.
The idea is that you are the CEO within a radius of only three meters. “If you see litter within three meters, you pick it up, and if you see a guest looking for something, you stop and ask them if you can help,” says Mr Viking.
He adds that when employees take ownership of their own space, it can help them feel empowered and valued, which goes a long way toward contributing to a healthy workplace mood.
Janine Leschke, a professor at Copenhagen Business School’s Department of Management, Society and Communication, says that Denmark is definitely “not a work culture where you have to show up and be available all day, all night to show that you’re working hard all day time”.
Instead, she says, flexibility during the workday gives employees the time they need to, say, pick up their children from school or daycare. “The day doesn’t have to officially end at five or six, and that’s attractive to many Danes with children.”
Mr. Hoces noted how some employers in the US may expect their employees to be available on weekends to respond to odd emails or messages. This kind of overtime is not in line with his views on a positive work-life balance.
“If I was expected to take calls on the weekend, that would be a big worry for me and I would probably change jobs,” he says. “But so far, it hasn’t happened to me or anyone I know.”
