Danish work-life balance culture - too much of a good thing in a global world? A study of inpatriates' meetings with Danish colleagues

Traditionally, Denmark is proud of its well-known high standard of welfare, strong unions and effective model of democratic governance. The spillover effects and the equal opportunities on the labour market have especially contributed to the strong awareness of responsibility, duty and work-place rights, which makes Denmark known as a country characterised by a good work-life balance. However, a qualitative study of interviews with inpatriates working in Danish enterprises showed that other cultures sometimes find the Danish flexible labour market problematic as the special Danish work-life-balance mentality tends to have an excluding effect on inpatriates, limiting their working relationship with the Danes. At worst, one such long-term social consequence for Denmark may be the loss of competitiveness as the result of ineffective use of interpersonal skills in the global workplace.