Flexible work helped Danish psychologist and author Svend Brinkmann manage stress during his busiest years, while new debates emerge on how work culture in Denmark must adapt to modern life.
The Pressure of Modern Work
Svend Brinkmann, professor of psychology and well-known author, admits that despite loving his work, he has faced moments of pressure. Long hours, physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, and restless nights have occasionally come with his academic and public life. He never went on sick leave for stress, but many Danes have not been so lucky.
In spring, studies from labor researchers showed record-high stress-related illnesses in Denmark since tracking began in 2010. The country’s largest pension company also reported an unprecedented wave of customers seeking help for mental strain. These figures highlight how fragile mental health at work has become for many employees.
Because of that, journalist and author Hakon Mosbech believes it is time to rethink the way people work. He argues that too many break down because the structure of modern labor itself is flawed. His latest book, *“Vågne timer,”* explores how work can become more sustainable for ordinary Danes.
Balancing Work and Home Life
One core theme in Mosbech’s book is the balance between work and personal life. Danish parents, research shows, report lower happiness than families in neighboring Norway and Sweden. Brinkmann recalls that when his children were young, combining research, teaching, and public engagements left him stretched thin.
He credits one crucial factor for surviving that period: flexibility. The ability to work from home or organize his schedule freely helped him stay productive without collapsing. This kind of adaptability lies at the heart of Denmark’s well-known work-life balance.
For others, that luxury does not exist. Teachers, childcare workers, and countless others must appear physically at specific times. Yet Mosbech argues change is still possible. He points to nurseries that experimented with a four-day workweek. The results were surprising. Care workers felt better overall, and, oddly enough, they ended up working slightly more hours in total. This shows, he suggests, that flexibility and productivity can go hand in hand when work structures are redesigned with care.
The Return-to-Office Push
After years of remote work becoming the norm, Danish and international companies are now calling employees back to the office full time. Starting January 2026, pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk will phase out home office privileges, requiring staff to meet on-site five days a week. American tech firm Amazon and the Danish headquarters of Joe & the Juice have adopted similar strategies.
This shift puzzles Brinkmann, who questions why many employers insist on constant physical presence. Mosbech offers two explanations. First, the industrial-era mindset still shapes workplaces even in the digital age. Second, employers fear losing team cohesion if everyone works remotely.
Interestingly, scientific research supports a mixed model. A large study published in *Nature* revealed that partial remote flexibility improves employee well-being. Productivity tends to remain steady or even increase, while job satisfaction rises and staff turnover declines.
Slow Science and a New Mindset
Mosbech also emphasizes that location is not the only thing that matters in modern work culture. Time for focused thought, experimentation, and even making mistakes is crucial for better results. This idea resonates strongly with Brinkmann, who supports a growing global movement toward what researchers call “slow science.” The approach encourages deeper reflection and more deliberate research rather than racing for quick results.
In a way, both Brinkmann and Mosbech represent two sides of the same conversation: the personal and the collective. Brinkmann embodies the academic who survived because of a flexible schedule. Mosbech represents a new generation trying to rebuild systems that no longer fit the way people live and think today.
Their dialogue captures something essential about the Danish labor culture. The desire to combine purpose, happiness, and balance has never been stronger, even as old habits continue to pull in the opposite direction.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Work-Life Balance in Denmark
The Danish Dream: Best Psychologists in Denmark for Foreigners
DR: ‘Det stod måske lidt og vibrerede’ – et fleksibelt arbejdsliv hjalp Brinkmann, da han var mest presset
