Differences between Germany and Sweden in terms of work-life balance

In Germany, Beate often felt guilty about leaving work early, only to still arrive late to her daughter’s school event. This constant juggling of professional responsibilities and family commitments was a significant source of stress.

In Sweden, however, her colleagues would encourage her to attend her daughter’s school performance, emphasizing that it was already time to leave. In Sweden, it is a given that both men and women participate in their children’s school activities. On the last day of school in summer, parents spend the day with their children, leaving offices nearly empty.

When asked whether this level of flexibility affects workplace morale or efficiency, Beate is clear: it doesn’t. In fact, she believes that such practices lead to higher motivation and a stronger commitment to work. Employees return to work feeling refreshed and without the lingering guilt that often accompanies balancing family and professional duties. The team mentality is strong in Sweden, and when scheduling meetings or business trips, employees’ personal commitments are often taken into account.

Impact of Sweden’s parental leave model on gender equality

In Germany, it’s not uncommon to hear comments like, “Do you really need to take a month’s parental leave? Don’t you have a wife at home?” Additionally, the decision on who takes parental leave often hinges on salary differences, with the higher earner typically staying at work. This perpetuates traditional gender roles, where men continue their careers while women take on childcare responsibilities. Beate notes that while Sweden also has a gender pay gap, the approach to parental leave is markedly different.

In Sweden, about 30% of all parental leave days each year are taken by fathers. Beate has noticed that even men in senior management roles often take six months off to stay at home. In her experience, the decision on who takes leave is more frequently driven by personal preference rather than financial considerations.

Being a female engineer in Sweden

In Germany, Beate constantly struggled to be taken seriously, often having her opinions questioned and needing to fight for recognition. In contrast, her experience in Sweden was different from the start. She was pleasantly surprised to find that her Swedish colleagues listened to her and valued her input without the same level of skepticism she encountered in Germany.

A particularly eye-opening moment came when she was leading a workshop in Sweden with German visitors. Despite being the workshop leader, they expected her to serve coffee. This incident reminded her of the role she had often been forced to play in similar meetings in Germany.