### Denmark’s Work-Life Balance: Why It’s a Global Case Study

Denmark consistently ranks high in work-life balance, presenting an ideal work environment that the world is watching closely. This article explores how Denmark achieves a good balance between work and life, and how it makes people happy at work, focusing on various examples and policies.

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1. A Trust-Based Work Culture

• The core of Denmark’s work environment can be summarized as mutual trust.
  • They do not excessively manage employees or check if they have worked for 8-9 hours a day.
  • They only check if the goals are completed, increasing work autonomy.
• The horizontal structure within the workplace is another characteristic, where superiors do not dominate employees, but rather create a democratic atmosphere.
  • Example: An employee at an IT company in Copenhagen mentioned that the “culture of trusting my work style and time” increases job satisfaction.

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2. Lowest Overtime Rates in the World

• According to OECD statistics, the percentage of Danish workers with overtime of 50 hours or more is only 1.1%.
  • Significantly lower than the global average (10.2%), the US (10.4%), and the UK (10.8%).
• An environment where long work hours are rare, which allows individuals to enjoy a richer personal life.

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3. Institutional Support: Vacation and Parental Leave

• Guarantee of at least 5 weeks of paid vacation and public holidays per year.
  • For reference, the UK averages 5.6 weeks, while the US has a minimum of only 11 days.
• Parental leave is also very generous.
  • Denmark: Provides more than 6 months of paid parental leave.
  • US: Federal law only guarantees unpaid parental leave (though some states like California offer paid options).

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4. Trust Management Practiced by CEOs

• Many Danish company leaders provide their employees with a completely autonomous environment.
  • Casper Rouchmann, CEO of a tech company, mentioned that “employees don’t even need permission to leave early.”
  • Such a culture where the kindness of superiors is not abused has become natural.
• Tivoli Gardens amusement park case:
  • Introduced the 3-meter rule, considering every employee as a CEO of their own space.
  • Encourages employees to take responsibility and actively solve problems.

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5. Flexible Working Hours and Family-Friendly Culture

• Through flexible working hours, employees can take care of their personal lives, such as picking up their children from school in the middle of the day.
• There is no pressure to finish work exactly at 5 or 6 PM, so many workers manage their own time and balance work and life.

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6. The Role of the Danish Welfare State

• Denmark has a large social welfare safety net.
  • For example, employees who are laid off can receive financial support from the government and companies.
• This safety net provides stability to workers, but some are concerned that such a system weakens entrepreneurship.

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7. Global Applicability

• Inspired by the Danish model, some companies around the world are attempting changes to improve employee welfare and work-life balance.
  • New examples:
    • US: Introducing unlimited paid vacation, mental health days, and wellness programs.
    • Expecting more creative ideas and active problem-solving by increasing employee satisfaction.

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Conclusion

Denmark’s work environment focuses on improving the overall quality of life, not just work efficiency. A democratic work culture based on trust, generous vacation policies, and welfare systems support this. By referring to these points and improving work-life balance in their own way, more people can have happier careers.

Keywords: Denmark, work-life balance, trust work culture, paid vacation, flexible working hours, welfare safety net, corporate responsibility

*Source URL:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20g7705re3o