I’ve lived in Sweden for almost 8 years now and fortunately, I’ve been gainfully employed this entire time (crossing fingers). These years have given me a lot of insight into how different it is to work at a Swedish company when compared to an American company.
Here’s a few of my observations over the years… Treat this as a cheat sheet to understanding Swedish business culture just a bit better! Continue reading
Everyone does it. You’re enjoying a great fika with your friends or colleagues and you keep eyeing that last piece of fikabröd. You look at your friends, and they’re all busy in conversation but really, they’re thinking the same thing as you. They all want it, but no one wants to reach for it.
Guest writer Karin Leman (@le_karin) discusses why it is #TrulySwedish to leave the last piece of fikabröd, but more interestingly, why we should all stop doing it!
Fika.
The quintessential Swedish concept. It’s coffee with friends, but not just coffee – there is usually some fikabröd involved: kanelbulle (cinnamon buns), kärleksmums (“love yummies”), morotskaka (carrot cake), punschrulle… I could go on forever.
Fika is a religion in Sweden. And it’s a religion that I gladly partake in. Continue reading