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

[ElijahBenjamin]

Maybe in terms of how you can communicate, I can see why you would make a statement like that. However, the UK does like to create an illusion of being relaxed. Did you ever work in an office over there, where the boss didn't need to send in a motivational speaker all the time? David Brent lol? Those guys are pretending to be relaxed.

You don't think that the British tax payer is being overworked and is not appreciated?

[mailmail]

my experience having worked in the states and in england and now in sweden is that the employees which i know have little or no respect for the bosses and complain alot about what they were hired to do. I am not lumping everyone into that just saying from my own experience. Each country has its own culture and it is hard to adjust to one or the other depending on where you came from. I do get frustrated alot with the differences in thinking but i guess to each their own as they say.

[gplusa]

I kind of understand what you're saying, but my observations have come from a different angle. One of the biggest differences I noticed, coming from an English based country, is that bosses in Sweden do not really look like "the boss". There's not the same clear hierarchy structure system here as I was used to. In Sweden I've found that workers are a lot more open with their boss about what they like or don't like and it's not seen as a black mark on your record if you speak out. Which I think that some do take advantage of. Back in the old country we just grumbled amongst ourselves, but we generally did what the boss said. Because, despite being a total arse, the boss was still the boss. The gap between employer and employee is not so great in Sweden. Both positives and negatives in that.

[skogsbo]

The gap between employer and employee is not so great in Sweden. Both positives and negatives in that.

nice for fluffy meetings or chats over coffee, but totally useless for decisive management led decsions, or sorting out a member of staff who needs a proper hard kick up the jacksy!
The boss is a boss for reason, if they want to be all huggy at ground level that's fine, provided they are able to change heads or have respect and get stuff done when it needs to be. It's easier to be firm or strict to start with and then give slack, but impossible the other way around.

[mailmail]

totally agree with you a good kick up the wazzooo never hurt anyone... to be more professional would not do businesses here any harm.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Sweden is doing what works for Sweden...it may not appeal to others that have different experiences in other countries...but when you look at the bottom line...I guess you could say..."if it ain't broke, don't fix it"...Right?

[Mzungu]

Right...



*and be happy at your work*

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

The photo miraculously answers the previously imponderable question of: "How many Swedes does it take to carry a surfboard"?

[Mzungu]

^
Oh! Had an idea it was about screwing,_{(a light bulb)} or such like...

*mmm, never mind*

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Somehow you had to get "screwing" into a previously asexual() conversation...you bad Southern Boy!

[MissKD]

I work in a Swedish global company and in the office Swedes are the last to arrive and the first to leave. Fika lasts 30 minutes, 2 times a day, and the lunch should be 30 minutes as well but it is always 1 hour AT LEAST.

I do not think that Swedes work a lot. I think they know how to take it easy and not to be too stressed. We have flexible hours, but we must work 8 hours a day. Normal hours should be 8-16.30. I am the only one being in the office at 8, everyone else gets here after 8.45. then fika, lunch, fika. Then they leave at 16.30, max 17.00. That is good life.

[delfinita]

I think it depends on productivity. When i lived in Spain people worked many many hours but they were not all productive all the time. Dare you leave on time, the boss would have you in his black list. This leading a lot of people pretending to work instead of being productive. I remember having a colleague who did everything on time, but she did worked her hours and she was the one getting fired. It was so so so unfair. Then after she was gone bosses realized that she actually did everything she needed to do during her time in the office, unlike the others.

Working in a 100% swedish company now (i am the only foreigner) i am late in the mornings but i stay late (my market requests it) and i thinks its OK to leave on time as long as your duties have been accomplished. I dont see the need to spending more hours at work when you have been hired for 40 hours a week.

When needed of course we stay late and work. We dont have fika all the time. People go to the kitchen, grab their coffee and come back to their desks. We do have afterwork on fridays but again, people take it depending on how busy they are. If what they have can wait, then they sit and play together Trivial pursuit for example. Those who have a lot grab a beer and go back to their desks. Week after that maybe those who couldnt play then do and so on. i looove this one!

On the other hand, my previous company we were probably 75% foreigners and the ones that made the most fuss about EVERYTHING were the foreigners, who wanted more and more and more time off, fika, better desks, lighting, pay, leave on time even if work was not finished etc when we had a top of the notch office. "this is Sweden, these are OUR RIGHTS" ...like...hello?

So i guess my opinion is a bit biased.

[Migga]

I work in a Swedish global company and in the office Swedes are the last to arrive and the first to leave. Fika lasts 30 minutes, 2 times a day, and the lunch should be 30 min ... (show full quote)

I work in a Swedish global company and in the office Swedes are the last to arrive and the first to leave. Fika lasts 30 minutes, 2 times a day, and the lunch should be 30 minutes as well but it is always 1 hour AT LEAST.

I do not think that Swedes work a lot. I think they know how to take it easy and not to be too stressed. We have flexible hours, but we must work 8 hours a day. Normal hours should be 8-16.30. I am the only one being in the office at 8, everyone else gets here after 8.45. then fika, lunch, fika. Then they leave at 16.30, max 17.00. That is good life. ... (hide full quote)

And still Sweden and the Swedes are one of the most productive and innovative countries in the world. It`s economy is worldleading even with all these lazy slobs. They make cars, ships, jets and medicine. Who would have thunk it.

[cogito]

@Migga,
Have you ever lived and worked outside your Swedish bubble?

[Migga]

Yes. I`m just offering my opinion.