يحاولGOLD- Free

The fika principle Why Swedish workplace culture leads the way

The Guardian Weekly|November 17, 2023
Wellbeing allowances, generous parental leave and bonuses for taking breaks are standard perks in Sweden. But would such progressive practices translate to other countries?
- Leah Harper
The fika principle Why Swedish workplace culture leads the way

Gym classes, massages, mood boosting hobbies; it's no secret that staying "well" can be prohibitively expensive. But not necessarily in Sweden, where many employers offer their workers a "wellness allowance": up to 5,000 SEK ($460) tax-free a year to spend on pre-approved wellbeing-based activities.

First introduced in 1988, the allowance can be used for endeavours ranging from horse riding to smoking cessation programmes, and many employers have increased their offering over the years. But the allowance is just the tip of Sweden's workplace wellbeing iceberg. In fact, when it comes to ideal countries to be employed in, Sweden sets the pace.

"It's pretty amazing," said Maja Wessel, acting CEO of Region Stockholm's Patient Advisory Committee (Patientnämnden) of the wellness allowance. Her organisation was named Sweden's best small workplace by Great Place to Work this year and came third in the European final. She spends her allowance on a gym membership, but says yoga classes and ski passes are also popular choices. Many Swedish employers also offer a weekly friskvårdstimme or "wellness hour" - 60 minutes to look after their wellbeing during paid working hours.

Perhaps the best-known of Sweden's enviable workplace practices is the tradition of fika, which involves stepping away from your desk to share coffee and cake or pastries with colleagues. Unlike in other countries, where a coffee run may typically be carried out by one person, or used to facilitate a work meeting, in Sweden the focus tends to be on taking a collective break.

"It's not a time to talk about work-it's a pause from work, to talk about other things," said Lotta Henrysson, head of HR at Vattenfall Sweden, a stateowned energy company. Vattenfall's offices have seating areas to make it easy for people to move away from their desks and "change the environment" during fika breaks.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 17, 2023 من The Guardian Weekly.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,500 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 17, 2023 من The Guardian Weekly.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,500 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY مشاهدة الكل
Family's agony Tragedy of couple killed after surprise visit home
The Guardian Weekly

Family's agony Tragedy of couple killed after surprise visit home

In the cramped lanes of Ambika Nagar, everyone spoke of Pooja and Harshit Patel with pride.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 20, 2025
Brian Wilson 1942 -2025
The Guardian Weekly

Brian Wilson 1942 -2025

Pop music as perfect as pop is ever likely to get'

time-read
7 mins  |
June 20, 2025
Critical mass Is Iran as close to nuclear weapons as Netanyahu claims?
The Guardian Weekly

Critical mass Is Iran as close to nuclear weapons as Netanyahu claims?

In justifying Israel's attack on Iran, Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he had acted to pre-empt a secret Iranian programme to build a nuclear bomb, claiming Tehran already had the capacity to build nine nuclear bombs.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 20, 2025
The Guardian Weekly

Only connect The first novel from the author of We Move ambitiously spans continents and time

Gurnaik Johal's first book, 2022's We Move, demonstrated how rewarding it can be for a gifted young writer to ignore conventional wisdom.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 20, 2025
Europe was promised a night train revival, so why the delay?
The Guardian Weekly

Europe was promised a night train revival, so why the delay?

As Europeans reawoke to the joy of travel post-Covid restrictions, it looked as though we were in store for a resurgence of continent-crossing night trains.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 20, 2025
The Guardian Weekly

Even in the most harrowing cases, justice cannot be immune from scrutiny

When Lucy Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies, and attempting to murder seven more, the judge sentenced her to multiple whole-life terms for what he said had been “a cruel, calculated and cynical campaign”.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 20, 2025
How does WOKE start winning again?
The Guardian Weekly

How does WOKE start winning again?

British progressives have faced major setbacks in recent years. Was a backlash inevitable-and are new tactics needed?

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 20, 2025
Old scores Why Greek myths are gods' gifts to musicals
The Guardian Weekly

Old scores Why Greek myths are gods' gifts to musicals

From Hadestown to H Hercules, eternal tales of love and coming of age are still reeling in audiences

time-read
3 mins  |
June 20, 2025
Sin bins Mexican restaurant on a zero-waste mission
The Guardian Weekly

Sin bins Mexican restaurant on a zero-waste mission

Sourcing local produce and using pre-Hispanic agricultural techniques, Baldío has embraced a regenerative ethos - with delicious results

time-read
3 mins  |
June 20, 2025
Could boredom be good for us? Smartphones offer us instant stimulation, but they may silence a deeper message
The Guardian Weekly

Could boredom be good for us? Smartphones offer us instant stimulation, but they may silence a deeper message

In 2014, a group of researchers from Harvard University and the University of Virginia tasked people with sitting alone with their thoughts for 15 minutes.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 20, 2025

نحن نستخدم ملفات تعريف الارتباط لتقديم خدماتنا وتحسينها. باستخدام موقعنا ، فإنك توافق على ملفات تعريف الارتباط. يتعلم أكثر