Denmark work culture: American professional reflects on six-year transition

Brooke Black, a communications professional formerly in the US music industry, shared her experience of relocating from Los Angeles to Denmark in 2020. Despite moving to a country renowned for its work-life balance, Black noted it took six years to adapt to the local professional culture.

In the United States, Black was accustomed to a high-pressure environment requiring constant availability. Upon moving to Denmark, she initially struggled to abandon American work habits, such as working through lunch and attempting to prove her value through excessive productivity. She faced cultural shocks regarding office norms, including the importance of communal lunches and the use of designated phone booths for calls to avoid disturbing colleagues.

Black highlighted that her greatest challenge was utilizing annual leave. Fearing that taking time off would signal a lack of ambition, she initially resisted the Danish standard of a 37-hour work week and generous vacation rights. She eventually realized that in Denmark, rest is a standard component of professional life rather than something that must be earned through overwork.