Business culture in Norway
What to wear
Norway observes a conservative way of dressing in a corporate setting. Men are expected to wear button up long sleeves that may be covered by suits or sports jackets, partnered with corporate pants. On the other hand, females should wear suits over shirts, together with corporate pants. Females may wear dresses, however not too revealing.
What to bring
Business cards are normally being exchanged at the end of the first meeting, so better prepare them when attending one. Your cards do not have to be in Norwegian, and would actually be better translated in English. Gifts are not normally exchanged during meetings, but you can give inexpensive items when concluding a deal. Never give your counterparts expensive gifts, because this will imply that you are bribing them to side in your favor for a business deal.
What to expect
Punctuality is very important to Norwegians. If you anticipate that you will be late, always call ahead of time. However, this should be avoided as much as possible. Expect decisions to come only from high ranking officials. If you are meeting a representative of the company, expect that decision making may take some time. Unless you are directly talking to the officer in charge of a project , or to an executive, you will rarely close a deal with a counterpart in one sitting.
What you should know
Although it was mentioned that most decisions are made by high ranking officials, it is good to know that those decisions are actually being made as a group. The Norwegian way of managing in an office setting is less hierarchical and encourages the participation of the whole team. Unlike other European countries, Norwegian companies appreciate openness among different levels in the office, and prefer equal interactions within the office. In other terms, locals push for flat structures, and an egalitarian approach to management styles.
In terms of working females, Norway has no issues accepting them in the workforce at all. Women can freely work in the corporate world, and are empowered to take high ranking positions. In fact, in the most recent Women, Peace, and Security Index, Norway was ranked as the place where women get the best quality of life.
Before getting into the Norwegian workforce, you should be aware of the different leaves and vacations that you will be entitled with. Check out the tabulated list of corporate leaves below:
Type of Leave |
Description |
Annual Leave |
Norwegian employers provide up to 4 week and one day annual leave, in fulfillment of the Norwegian Holidays Act |
Maternity Leave |
Expecting mothers in Norway are entitled to 3 weeks leave prior to child delivery and are required to take a leave of absence 6 weeks after giving birth, unless medically cleared and allowed to resume work by an attending physician. |
Parental Leave |
Inclusive of the previous maternity leave, parents are allowed to take up to a total of 49 weeks parental leave with full pay and 57 weeks where benefits may already be reduced |
Sick Leave |
Employees who may get ill in Norway are entitled to 16 days of paid leave annually. |
Public Holidays |
New Year 1 January Maundy Thursday April Good Friday April Easter Sunday April Easter Monday April Labour Day 1 May Ascension Day 13 May Constitution Day 17 May Whitsun 23 May Whit Monday 24 May Christmas Day 15 December 2nd Day of Christmas 26 December St. Stephen's Day 26 Day |