Doing business in Denmark: Tips for internationals

Doing business in Denmark can be a pleasure for internationals: the Danish business culture prizes transparency, trustworthiness, and innovation. Yet Danish business manners aren’t always clear if you come from abroad.

Should you bring a gift for your Danish business contact? How much small talk is required before you get down to a business deal in Denmark? Does Danish business etiquette require you to treat men and women differently, or show special respect for the management team versus other employees?

Kay Xander Mellish is a cultural trainer and speaker based in Copenhagen, Denmark who offers tips on working in Denmark for internationals. Kay is a US-Danish dual citizen and the author of “How to Work in Denmark” and “Working with Americans: Tips for Danes.”

The #1 Mistake Danish managers make working with international talent

Your new hire is rather silent in meetings and seems a little afraid to speak his mind. He seems to wait for instructions instead of jumping into the job and proactively finding ways to add value to the team and move your projects forward. He rarely challenges you, his manager, and seems overly concerned with getting approval for every step of the project.

Did you hire the wrong person?

No, you’ve simply made the #1 mistake Danish managers make working with international talent. You are expecting your newcomer to act like a Dane.

What happens at How to Work in Denmark workshops

My “How to Work in Denmark” corporate workshops are active and creative. We talk about how to work together better across cultures….and then examine and reinforce those messages with reflection groups and improv exercises.

Doing business in Denmark

Danish work hours: Is it true that everyone goes home at 4pm?

Danish working culture offers some of the best work-life balance in the world, and many people who work elsewhere envy the Danish work hours. But do Danes really only work 37.5 hours per week?

Doing business in Denmark

Business gifts in Denmark

Gifts are an important part of doing business in many cultures – but what about business gifts in Denmark? What should you bring to a potential Danish business partner? Should you give gifts to your boss or your colleagues at holiday time or on their birthdays?

Doing business in Denmark

Can Americans work in Denmark?

Can Americans work in Denmark? They can, although they will find it much easier to find a job if they have some type of additional passport from the European Union.

Without an EU passport, Americans will find themselves the legal equivalent of people from China, India, Brazil, and African countries seeking employment in Denmark. They’ll need to have an employer sponsor them for a job, and the employer must prove to the Danish authorities that there is no Danish citizen available to do that job.

Doing business in Denmark

Danish management style: What do bosses mean when they say “My door is always open?

“My door is always open.” It seems like something every Danish boss says, whether it’s during a job interview, on the first day at work, or at a feedback meeting when things are going well… or not so well. But what does it really mean?

Danish business culture do’s and don’ts, Doing business in Denmark

Do you have to learn Danish to work in Denmark?

People interested in coming to Denmark for work often ask, “Do you have to learn Danish to work in Denmark?”

The answer is no – in some cases. If you are an IT specialist or an engineer, finding an all-English speaking environment in Denmark won’t be difficult. Danish companies that specialize in technology, gaming, architecture, or infrastructure generally have customers and employees from all over the world, and they do business in English.

In addition, many of Denmark’s largest employers, like Maersk and Novo Nordisk, have English as their corporate language.

Danish business culture do’s and don’ts, Doing business in Denmark

Working in Copenhagen – the first five things to know

Working in Copenhagen is a dream for many people – the Danish capital is often described as one of the best places in the world to live and work.

Assuming you’ve arranged for a working visa, here are five things to remember if you’re planning to move to Copenhagen for work.

Doing business in Denmark

The Danish work environment: A toolbox for success

In your toolbox for success in Denmark, the first tool is a commitment to openness and trust.

Trust is taken for granted in Danish society and the Danish workplace; when you are hired, it is because an employer has decided to trust you.

You may be surprised how little your employer monitors your work. Don’t take this for granted or as an excuse to slack off. You are being trusted to do the best you can with the assignment that you have been given.

Doing business in Denmark

How high are the taxes if you work in Denmark?

Many internationals would like to have a “tax calculator” to show exactly how much take-home pay they can expect after the Danish tax bite.

But it isn’t so straightforward: your tax level will depend on which municipality you live in, whether you have a mortgage, how long you commute to work, and other factors.