Space for
multicultural living
According to Danmarks Statistik and Statistikmyndigheten (Sweden), 4.5 million people live in the Greater Copenhagen Region. Of these, 743.992 are internationals from all around the globe.
We wondered: Where in the region do they live now? And why are these places a perfect fit for internationals.
15 minutes outside Malmö, in Lund, Medicon Village is located. The “Village” is home to some of the most innovative companies globally and currently hosts more than 180 companies. Together with Lund University, the region is one of the biggest Life Science knowledge centres and Life Science employers in the Greater Copenhagen Region.
Via the Medicon Valley Alliance, it is also closely connected to Region Zealand, resulting in many daily commuters between Skåne and Zealand.
Photo credit: Felix Gerlach
What about the “life” in our famous work-life balance?
In Copenhagen, there is almost nothing that you can’t do. Nevertheless, running is one of the most beloved hobbies among Copenhageners. And it even somehow became a part of some company's identity.
In many companies, no matter the size, you can participate in a “running club” with your colleagues.
This collegial running peaks each September at the "DHL Stafetten" (engl.: DHL run) in which most companies participate. Apart from this, there are several (half-) marathons throughout the summertime.
Photo credit: Miguel A Amutio
1. Checking in
We take great pride in treating everyone in the Greater Copenhagen Region equally.
Our flat hierarchies at the workplace result from the belief that nobody is better than the other. We even have a name for it: the Jante Law.
However, we don’t always do our international colleagues a favour by simply “living by the law”. Instead, we have to acknowledge that our international colleagues are different: they don’t necessarily speak the language, have a different outlook on hierarchies, or are simply divergent.
Checking in regularly in a safe space, e.g., via a regular 1-on-1 meeting, shows great potential to create the feeling of belonging to the company.
Photo by Thomas Svanholm Fink
2. Again, Check-in, but this time with your company
Check-ins with international employees only are not enough. You and the company have to be ready and open, too.
Look at your onboarding process and ask yourself: Do you include onboarding topics relevant to non-Danish or non-Swedish employees? What is the general company culture like? Could you improve certain aspects?
3. Watch your language
True inclusion emerges when employees can chat and communicate outside official work tasks. Specifically, companies with predominantly national employees tend to switch to their native language when the conversation turns into a chit-chat rather than an official meeting. This might quickly lead to the exclusion of international employees.
Switching the company language from one to the other is undoubtedly a process that will take time. The first step could be to ensure that all working materials and official communication, such as all-hands meetings and emails, are available in English.
Photo by Thomas Svanholm Fink
4. Workshops
A great way to include internationals and their differing way of thinking and tackling projects, as well as reach a common ground for everybody in the company, is to provide workshops. Such workshops could be centered around the company's main values, culture, or work habits.
Photo by Thomas Svanholm Fink
Greater Copenhagen Region is a place of endless opportunities for businesses and people alike. A place to live grow and evolve.
- Top-quality of life
- Great for doing business
- Highly educated population
- Excellent infrastructure
- Direct proximity to two markets
- Lovely pastries
About Greater Copenhagen Region
Greater Copenhagen Region stretches over the borders of Denmark and Sweden. With 4.4 million inhabitants and 17 universities, it’s the largest metropolitan area in the Nordics and a global hub for growth, sustainable solutions and innovation. The region offers world-class research facilities and a creative business environment. Outstanding infrastructure makes Greater Copenhagen Region highly connected via rail, road, air and sea. The two main cities of the region, Sweden’s Malmö and Denmark’s Copenhagen are just a half hour train-ride apart. Its strategic location makes Greater Copenhagen Region the link between 25 million consumers in Scandinavia and 125 million in Northern Europe.