Why danes are the worlds happiest people

In Denmark, full-time employees are guaranteed five weeks of vacation time, regardless of their position or field of work. To put that in perspective, the average American worker with five years of experience is given 15 days of paid vacation , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

However the United States doesn't provide a federal paid vacation policy. That's not the case in Denmark, according to Mellish. If you try to contact someone in Denmark and Sweden in late July or August, they'll very likely be away "enjoying their vacation time," Sachs says. In Finland, many people spend their summers in cottages, called "mokki," where they unplug and relax with family and friends. Contrary to popular belief, "giving ourselves some free time can improve our productivity rather than decrease it," Santos says.

Christina Konig Koehrsen, an art student from outside of Copenhagen, tells CNBC Make It that she left her job in advertising for eight months because she was stressed, and the work simply wasn't making her happy.

People typically go on "stress leave" when things are so bad at work that it's affecting their mental health, Mellish says. Stress can be "a career-killer, to be honest," she adds, comparing it to a "low-level disability. This safety net between jobs is part of Denmark's "flexicurity" labor market model, which allows businesses to be flexible, and people to get security from the government.

Under this model, it's very easy for employers to fire and hire people. This bottom-up approach gives a direct voice to the population as opposed to the more top-down approach of deciding ex-ante what ought to matter for the well-being of city residents. Furthermore, Nordic citizens experience a high sense of autonomy and freedom, as well as high levels of social trust towards each other, which play an important role in determining life satisfaction.

For more info, please contact. Tilmeld dig vores nyhedsbrev News in Danish. About us Employees News Download. Even though there are nine major political parties in Denmark, none of them seriously supports dismantling the Danish welfare state. People living in Denmark pay some of the world's highest taxes - up to half of their income. But most Danes will tell you that they are happy to pay taxes because they can see what they get in return.

Most healthcare in Denmark is provided with no fee to the patient. University students pay no tuition and receive a grant to help cover expenses while studying. Childcare is subsidised. And the elderly receive pensions and are provided with care helpers who visit them at home.

Most Danes believe that it is everyone's responsibility to work if they can, and pay taxes to support the common good. If everyone pays their fair share, a social safety net can remain in place to support the very young, the very old, and the sick.

The social safety net also supports people who lose their jobs for up to two years while they look for new jobs, although a system is in place to make sure they are actively looking for work. Scandinavian girl names: 35 female Scandinavian names.

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