Understanding How the World Views Work and Rest
The Nordic Model: Trust and Flexibility Countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have built their work culture around trust and personal time. Workers typically put in 35-40 hours per week, and companies expect employees to leave on time. Parents can take extended leave when children arrive, sometimes up to a year or more. The government supports these choices through strong social programs. People believe that rested workers perform better, so taking vacation time is normal and encouraged. This approach has created some of the happiest populations in the world according to research studies.