Finnish work communities are increasingly multicultural as the number of employees with foreign origin has grown. Finnish work culture still has some special characteristics. For example honesty, punctuality and using your own initiative are valued traits in Finnish work life.
Characteristics of Finnish work culture:
Employees are considered equal and treated equally. All employees are on a first name basis with each other and the opinions of employees are usually taken into consideration.
Employees are expected to use initiative, be responsible and trustworthy. Supervisors expect that the work is carried out independently.
Keeping to timetables is important: you need to go to work and arrive at the meetings on time.
Besides supervisors, also co-workers can ask you to perform a task.
When people agree on something, it is followed through.
Interaction between people is quite direct. For example in the meetings it’s normal to go straight to the point after the greetings.
At work, Finns typically enjoy lunch and coffee breaks with colleagues. And while Finns are hard workers while on the job, most draw a firm line between work and life: once they leave the office, the workday is over. Furthermore, taking time off for rest or a well-deserved vacation isn’t just expected – it’s encouraged. Typically, employees have four to six weeks of vacation per year, and many use their vacation time to take long breaks during the summer months. There are also numerous workplace holidays. Finally, even though religion doesn’t play a central role in the lives of most Finns, many bank holidays reflect the Christian calendar, so you can expect to have days off around Christmas and Easter.
