Nordic Insights on Workplace Wellbeing and Productivity

Last week, I had the honour of moderating The Nordic Chambers Business Forum 2026 – The Business of Happiness; a conference for business leaders looking to increase workplace wellbeing among their employees. And, I couldn’t have asked for a better topic to dive into.

Why do I say that? Not only because it’s a topic that provides you with important keys to be happier at work, but also because it’s something that is needed more than ever during times like these.

Why? During the conference’s first keynote, the knowledgeable Sarah Cunningham, Managing Director of the World Wellbeing Movement shared some staggering numbers. According to the World Wellbeing Movement’s Impact 2025 report, 1 in 8 people in the UK are living below the so called “Happiness Poverty Line”, i.e. experiencing a sense of life satisfaction below 5 on a scale 1-10. In some areas of the country, the same number was as high as 1 in 4. In other words, there is much to be done before we can claim wellness victory.

But how do we create wellbeing at work? Happiness is such a vague concept; a concept that differs between people, cultures and generations. However, it is just as important from a health perspective, as it is from a strategic point of view. How come? A recent study by the University of Oxford showed that happy employees are 13% more productive than their less happy counterparts. So, it turns out that having happy employees doesn’t only make you a leader with goodwille (no pun intended), but it can even be a strategic advantage. So what should we do? As constant leaders of the World Happiness Rankings, we decided to turn towards the Nordics to look for answers. By bringing together a knowledgeable panel of Nordic business leaders who’ve all been successful in creating workplace happiness, we were able to spot some common trends making up a happy workplace.

First of all, Siofra Whyte, Country Manager for the London Branch at Danske Bank and Jaye Cowle, CEO & Founder of Launch both emphasized the importance of fun and connection at work. We can all resonate with the statement that your team makes all the difference in your day-to-day work life, and we might even have lived with both good and bad examples of that.

And ideally, you should not only be surrounded by colleagues who are friendly and supportive, but you should be having fun at work. Nadine Allen, Head of UK and Vodafone Group, Ericsson, shared a perfect example of this: during her time as CEO of Ericsson Thailand, it was included in the leadership role to organize fun activities for the staff. How lovely is that?

Another key point made by Raymond Walsh, Managing Director, Wärtsila Energy Storage UK Ltd and Anders Grevstad, CEO DNB (UK) Ltd & Head of DNB CEMEA was a feeling of psychological safety. Thanks to the strong social systems present in the Nordics, employees experience a sense of calm and security – they know that whatever happens, they will be looked after, if not by an employer, then by the state.

Last, and most importantly, the importance of the “fika” – a coffee break where you spend time with your colleagues and occasionally share a cinnamon bun. David Pearson, Principal Consultant at Pinsent Masons, recalled a meeting where a Swedish business leader facing cut downs of 80,000SEK proposed making two employees redundant over cutting down on the costs for fika. And who could blame him? Certainly not anyone having experienced the pleasure of a Swedish cinnamon bun.

Jokes aside, last week’s conference made one thing clear to me – we all need to work on our workplace wellbeing – be it for the sake of happiness, or for the success of your business.

At Goodwille, we see the link between wellbeing and business performance every day. When you expand into the UK, you are not only setting up an entity or hiring employees. You are shaping culture, leadership and long term success.

We support international businesses with the practical side of growth. From governance and compliance to HR, payroll and tax, we help you build solid foundations so your team can focus on doing their best work. Clear processes, well structured employment frameworks and strong board oversight all contribute to a working environment where people feel secure and supported.

If you are growing your UK presence and want to get the people side right from the start, our team is here to help. A well run business creates the space for wellbeing to thrive. And that benefits your employees, your leadership team and your bottom line.

Hello, thanks for checking out our post! Would you like more recommendations and handy tips for your UK business or maybe have a chat with us about this topic?

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