(edit title) Swedes work a Lot more than people think Options

[Streja]

I suppose it's all about team spirit and all that...comraderie. In the UK I had to waste evenings instead having pints of beer in pubs with people who were so boring.

[BritVik]

I think we should do something typically Swedish here. Set up a commission to investigate the matter, a commission to report back in say the normal two to three years. After that we shall need another commission to investigate the first commission's findings - - etc.

As to Swedes working more than Brits - that is something that could be argued until the cows come home, with never any sign of a solution or a factual finding. There are those who work and there are those who don't - on both sides of the North Sea.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Any interruption in the work environment is a chance for a native Swede to dream up wonderful things that would be better for his/her life style and would benefit all mankind.

[BritVik]

I suppose it's all about team spirit and all that...comraderie. In the UK I had to waste evenings instead having pints of beer in pubs with people who were so boring.

Maybe so, but here in Sweden all that happens in the office - with people who are equally boring. So having a UK pint with it does tend to lessen the boredom.

[sarah02]

Regardless of whether Swedes work hard or not.( I personally think they do, they just have a system that supports and protects empolyees vey well). Whatever the nature of the system might be, it seems to work here. They seem to have enough resources, why else is there pappa ledighet, ekonomisk ersättinng för barn, handikappar, flyktingar, end even people who lose their jobs get paid 80 % of their original salary (in certain cases, i can't remember).
In a place where people see traveling (to Thailand) every summer is a no brainer, it means that the economy is doing well. Thus the system which supports this economy has to have done well too unless you're traveling using loans, which is insane

[klubbnika]

In my opinion, Swedes generally have good work ethics. They are quite productive and well organized and coordinated. But then again, it's a small country.

[Rick Methven]

Maybe so, but here in Sweden all that happens in the office - with people who are equally boring. So having a UK pint with it does tend to lessen the boredom.

When we brought a few Swedes over to work in our UK office, at first they where horrified at the British habit of going to the pub for a pie and a pint.

Did not take long for them to get into the swing of things though

[klubbnika]

I am still horrified when I see people DRINKING ALCOHOL on the lunch time here in London. It's beyond my comprehension how people can continue working and make decisions after having intoxicated themselves.

Also, the habit of sitting in the pub most of Fridays is fairly annoying. And i don't even mention a total absense from work when England's football team plays WorldCup cup or the like. On one of my jobs, the employees was officially allowed to watch England play Germany during the work time, they even bought pizza for the employees. I was apalled and said that if they are going to watch football, I am going to bring my DVDs here and watch them while they watch their football and I surely demand a slice of that pizza too.
Annoying!

[Streja]

I agree...

Britvik, my evenings are my sparetime and I don't want to waste them talking to colleagues, unless they are my friends as well.

[Migga]

I love all this hate. I gobble it up. Imagine how the Swedes can be so lazy and yet be one of the most competetive economies in the world. And with only a population of 9 millions. I don`t know what that says about the Swedes or the rest of the world.

http://globaltalentstrategy.com/en/article...in-the-world-68

[erik68]

Imagine if England were to play Poland in the Euros? London would come to a standstill;-)

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Swedish work ethic:

The difficult we do immediately.

The impossible only takes a few minutes longer.

Then FIKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[klubbnika]

To be honest, I do not really get people here on the forum who say that Swedes are lazy. Maybe because my experience tells me different. Yes, some individuals can be lazy, but on the whole swedes are far from lazy. You merely cannot be lazy in this climate.

May I ask you what people/nationality/country you compare to when you say that? And it what way? Would be interesting to see your answers.

[klubbnika]

#41

Believe me, it doesnt even have to be a World/European Cup to keep an Englishman away from his job. Once I left my shoes for reheeling at a shoe-reparing shop in London. Since no business hours were announced anywhere in the shop (not too uncommon), I asked the owner when the shop closes. He told me 8 pm.

Next day I came to pick up my shoes at 7.45 pm but the damned shop was already closed! The next day I asked the guy why the shop was closed at 7.45 when it was supposed to be open until 8 pm. He told me it was because his football club Chelsea FC was playing against someone that evening and he went to see the game!!!!!!

I was shocked. Why would somebody's hobby interrupt the business? I later learned it was not too uncommon when it came to football.

Regarding drinking alcohol on lunch hour... I work in the City (London's financial district) and I regularly see bankers loitering at the pubs and drinking alcohol during lunch time. No wonder they had a credit crunch and a financial crisis with this kind of work ethics. First drinking, then making stupid decisions under the influence....

And then I don't even mention them conducting business at "gentlemen's" clubs! Puh-leeeeze!

[BritVik]

You are skating on thin ice when talking about sport upsetting the working routine. Clearly you are not familiar with what was known in Sweden as the 'Stenmark' effect.
When national champion Ingemar Stenmark was scheduled to make his run, Sweden stood still. Back during my time behind a wheel, any attempt to get attention when Ingemar was doing his stint was destined to failure, no matter what time of day, or the urgency involved.
Things are not quite the same today. There are no great sportsmen or women to command so much attention, although there are one or two of the lasses who are well to the fore. But the Stenmark effect is no longer so prevalent.
One thing that does have its effect on Swedish working life is the need to discuss things in great depth. Sometimes to annoying lengths, which tend to delay important steps being made. I mentioned in an earlier post that they form commissions, and then commissions to investigate the previous commission's findings. Having in the past been a little involved, I found it more than a little frustrating, but it does seem to be a very Swedish trait. Not always for the best, but there we are. It is their way.

Oh, and yes, the liquid lunch - not exactly the best of ideas, but it is certainly not confined to any one nation, and doing business over a pint is sometimes not too bad an idea. For pint, though, you can substitute 'en stor stark'. a Calvados, a shot of Bourbon, or whatever happens to be the local tipple.

Klubbnika, you do seem to be easily shocked. maybe you haven't been around so very long to see what life is really like.