Danish company shifts to six-hour work days

Translated By Us seeing increased productivity, but Dansk Industri remains against the notion

The Danish translation firm Translated By Us has become one of the very first companies in Denmark to challenge the traditional view of how many hours employees should be working every day.

Instead of the typical 9-to-5 working day, employees at the company can enjoy going to work just six hours a day from 09:30 to 15:30 as part of a 30-hour working week.

“It’s a liberal and cool leadership evaluation and not a hippie experiment,” Mads Blücher, the CEO of Translated By Us, told Berlingske newspaper.

“But I do believe that it creates more productivity, better leadership and a quicker ability to let go of employees who don’t perform.”

Blücher is backed by the firm’s sales director and co-owner, Jacob Vesterkjær, whose previous experience with shipping giant Maersk – where longer working days are part and parcel of employment there – made him sceptical of a six-hour working day. But he can already see the results.

“I have to admit that I produce more,” Vesterkjær told Berlingske. “I call more customers during the day and I’m generally happier when I call them.”

READ MORE: More Danish bosses approving use of Facebook during working hours

Already low
Denmark already has some of the lowest weekly working hours in the world. An OECD report from 2014 showed the Danes work an average 27.62 hours per week.

And that’s one of the reasons why the confederation of Danish industry, Dansk Industri, is among the detractors for implementing a six-hour working day.

“If we had a very long working day in Denmark, there could be something gained by it, but we already have a very short working day,” Steen Nielsen, the deputy head of Dansk Industri, told Berlingske.

TOP STORIES

  • Nørrebro: A battle between identities

    Nørrebro: A battle between identities

    Nørrebro is a cornerstone of the city of Copenhagen. However, while it continues to be a popular hang out spot for young and old alike, the neighborhood is in the middle of a transformation from the old working class population, to a younger and more economically stable clientele. This fact raises concern among native Nørrebro-citizens.

  • Copenhagen celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a grand 20th anniversary parade

    Copenhagen celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a grand 20th anniversary parade

    The Irish Culture Association Denmark (ICAD) is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Copenhagen on March 16, 2025, with a parade marking its 20th anniversary. Supported by the Irish Embassy, the event will feature Irish music, dance, sports, and cultural displays, bringing the spirit of Ireland to Denmark.

  • Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

    Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

    Yesterday, the President of the United States made some of the strongest statements about Greenland he has ever made during the press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

  • Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

    Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

    Not all students feel like reading Danish poetry after a meeting at a language school with writer and poet Henrik Palle. Yet, a portrayal of Copenhagen as the city once was and the impressions of what the city is today give a deeper impression of the Danes

  • A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

    A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

    It’s difficult to learn Danish, especially with idioms that have figurative meanings. It highlights Christiane Bjørg Nielsen’s book, See What You Say, which serves as a visual guide to understanding these idiomatic expressions in Danish.

  • Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Copenhagen Capacity has launched a survey for all internationals living in Denmark to find out if they are happy here and what challenges they face. The Copenhagen Post is the media partner for this initiative. You can find the survey below in the article.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen is ranked as the fourth-best city in the world for career growth, according to an analysis by EnjoyTravel. This ranking considers various factors such as living costs, salary levels, workforce availability, and overall quality of life. Copenhagen is noted for its blend of historical and modern elements, particularly in the green energy sector, which influences job opportunities.

  • Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    A study reveals how only the massive influx of non-Western immigrants has saved many areas in Denmark from a decline in the workforce and a consequently shrinking economy

  • Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    An analysis from the Labour Movement’s Business Council shows that the rate in long-term unemployment for non-Western immigrants is 1.8 times higher than for Danes. In other words, a chronic unemployment situation is way more probable for non-Western internationals.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs