Ms.Maho: You're currently on maternity leave for your first child, but this is what it was like every day when you were working as an IT consultant.

Ms.Maho: Since coming to Sweden, I feel that work-life balance is important. The working hours of employees are short, and there is no one in the office by 5:00 p.m. Everyone works hard to get home as early as possible, so it seems that efficiency naturally improves.
Since coming to Sweden, I have worked as an IT consultant for six companies, and it seems that people who work overtime are perceived as "people who can't do their job" or "people who have so much work that they are overworked and can't communicate well with their managers."

Ms.Maho: It's a performance-based system, so as long as you produce results, you're OK. You don't get to be closely managed by your boss, and you feel like they trust you. And since I've been given this much time off, I have to work hard! I think a lot of people are highly motivated.
Because it is a flat society, it is easy to express opinions, and there is a tendency to stop things that are considered inefficient. Important things move forward, but conversely, low priority things get put off and don't move forward at all, lol.

Ms.Yoko: I agree, but I feel that there is a sense of equality in calling people by their first names, even if they are superiors, such as your boss or teacher. Also, having your own opinion is valued. So, if you attend a meeting but don't say anything, it's the same as not being there, so you might not be called next time.

Ms.Yoko and Ms.Maho, it's true!

Ms.Maho: Many companies allow employees up to 30 days of paid leave per year, and it is common to take 3-4 weeks at a time. In the past, it seems that everyone would take 4 weeks off in the same summer period, and everything would come to a halt. Now that things have become more globalized, people take their holidays in shifts.

Ms.Yoko: Not only adults, but children also have long holidays. Summer vacation is eight weeks long, and there is no homework during that time. The message from the school is, "Instead of studying, let your brain rest. We want you to have a variety of experiences that you can't normally have."
Because people are taught from a young age the importance of taking rest, even after they enter the workforce they don't feel guilty about taking rest. In fact, I think many people think that taking rest makes them more efficient.

Ms.Maho:Very important. Every year, we hold a big event where we check each other's vacation schedules and discuss things like "Who will cover this?" and "What kind of plan do we have?"
I take a break, my partner takes a break, and we're both happy. I want to take a proper break, so I make sure to hand over my responsibilities properly. Since we've always placed emphasis on teamwork, there are no problems even if someone takes a long break for vacation or childcare leave, and the handover and development of work and skills within the team is also smooth.

Ms.Yoko: That's right. In Sweden, they emphasize teamwork. Even in elementary school, they have students work on projects in pairs or groups, and they learn how to democratically resolve conflicting opinions and achieve the best results as a team. That's the kind of education they receive when they enter the workforce.

Ms.Maho: In corporate recruitment, of course, high ability is important, but in many cases, the decision is also based on whether the candidate fits into the team. In fact, I also found my next job after being scouted by someone I worked with.

Ms.Maho:That's true. There are no evening drinking parties in Swedish companies, but the company places great importance on coffee time, known as FIKA. There are sofas in the office and a space where you can relax while enjoying drinks and seasonal fruit.

Ms.Yoko: I think there are many chance  like that. Maybe it's because there are many opportunities for mid-career entry with job-based employment rather than lifetime employment, and because we live in a society where you can start learning again at any age. Maybe it's because people feel free to try something different if things don't work out. Company employees have systems in place for taking up to one year off work and long childcare leave, so some people try to start their own business during that time. I often hear about people starting businesses as an extension of their hobbies.

Ms.Maho: There are a lot of companies that allow side jobs. When introducing themselves at work, some people say happily, "I run a coffee company" even though they're IT consultants. I'm also a YouTuber with Yoko!

Ms.Yoko: Sweden has a small population, so it's interesting that they've been thinking about a global target from the beginning. They're not just thinking about Scandinavia, but also about Europe, including Germany and the UK.
Also, human relationships are important, and new work can come from connections. It's better to actively communicate with people from a wide range of industries. I use a shared office, and I participate in cross-industry networking events that are actively planned!

Ms.Maho:Working hours are short and your vacations are long, so it's hard to schedule meetings, haha.

Ms.Yoko: From the employer's perspective, it is difficult to hire temporary part-time workers because non-regular employment is not allowed, and it is difficult to expand a small business. However, I think this is a system that provides peace of mind for employees.

Ms.Yoko:That's right. There is a social consensus that women's labor is necessary, so men cooperate to help women work, and society has established a foundation by establishing daycare centers and improving systems. I think that is the basis for the fact that Sweden is said to be the "world's easiest place for women to work." In the end, it is not possible for women to work easily unless both people in the household cooperate. If women are asked to do too much food preparation and housework, they will not be able to work. That's why they say things like "Laundry is OK only on weekends" and "Meals are OK even if you cook one dish." Sweden's dining table is really simple, and it is said that the average time spent preparing meals is about 38 minutes a day (※), and they do not spend time on housework. This is also something that the couple agrees on. Many men also come to pick up their children.

Maho: The current working generation, both men and women, grew up in an environment where they had to raise children and do housework, so I think it's become the norm. Male employees also block out "pick up at 3:00 p.m." on their company calendars.

(*) Data from Statistics Sweden

Ms.Yoko: Since the 1970s. If women work, the family income increases, taxes are paid, and society becomes richer. It has been 50 years since society was built on that idea. Women are economically independent and tend to speak out.

Ms.Maho: As the dual-income culture is well established, there are many female role models in key positions. Most of my managers have been women. It's easy to talk to them about the problems that are unique to women, and it's easy to imagine them doing well as managers.