Differences in business culture in London, Berlin and Oslo

London, Berlin and Oslo – three European capital cities all considered to be great places for business. One might think that if you are successful in one of the cities, you can plug and play your strategy if you plan to expand to a new market. It’s Northern Europe after all! However, in some aspects the business culture and how business is conducted differ significantly between the cities. Below are just two of the aspects that work differently in London, Berlin and Oslo.

Employment

In London, most of the employment is based on a permanent and pensionable format. Employees’ health and safety, insurance, pension and statutory deductions are borne directly by the employer.

However, in Berlin, the trend of freelance and agency workers has taken hold. Many companies prefer this sort of arrangement as opposed to full-time employees. Germany has a strict policy on employee welfare and labour laws to safeguard the working environment, workplace safety and regulations.

Oslo, as Norway is not part of the EU, has its own governing structure on labour regulations. Their culture and Jante law is the reference point of most business decisions. Norwegian are also thorough in their prior research, pre-prep and screening of potential employees. Once you get into the system, your future is safeguarded with laws protecting from arbitrary firing and dismissal.

Contractual Agreements

In London, when it comes to drawing agreements, it is considered prudent to have everything in black and white with lengthy contracts and contractual processes that safeguard the welfare of both parties in the business and working environment.

Comparatively, in Berlin, “a short contract is a good contract” as long as it covers the legal bases and the parties involved are well aware of the consequences of a breached contract and the laws that abide.

In Oslo, however, their general culture has a big influence on how they conduct business. They take time to go through the documents, do in-depth research and checks before making business decisions or having ink on paper.

Goodwille help businesses mainly from the Nordic and Germanic regions with expanding to the UK. Our extensive knowledge of working in the intersection of these cultures makes us a great partner when launching on the UK market. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you in the UK!