Can this Swedish tradition make you happier at work? - BBC News
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- In Sweden, a coffee break is more than just a quick hit of caffeine.
Known as a ‘fika’, the Swedish coffee break is a longstanding tradition - a time to slow down and enjoy the company of others over a coffee and sweet treat.
But can a fika boost workplace productivity and wellbeing?
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#Sweden #Wellbeing #BBCNews
I think lower working hours, better security, better maternity/paternity pay and arrangements are the realm cause of Swedish worker happiness
second that, fika is a waste of time.
Exactly! Free health care and education and long vacations also helps. It's a stress free life here in Sweden. At least compared to the other countries I have lived in.
While I agree, fika being protected by law is a part of a slightly more stress free working day, and nothing to be scoffed at.
Fika is a symptom of Swedish society. When you value your population's happiness and wellbeing, you get things like fika.
Yes, fika isn’t the primary reason for reduced stress and high productivity but it is all interconnected. It’s part of the overall Swedish culture and that matters. When you have countries like mine (the US) that doesn’t even value long lunch breaks (30 mins is typical, 60 mins is considered “long” here), and where people typically have back-to-back meetings, a government backed law requiring a rest break is very crucial to creating a stress free society. And naturally, a society that values its workers lends itself to other policies that also treat a human being as humanely as possible. Whereas in the US, lunch breaks are short, they’re often taken “when you can find the time”, naturally other things like regularly taking time off for rest or health visits or maternity/paternity leaves are also not valued. And, in the US, the only jobs that must by law provide two 15 min rest breaks on top of your 30 min lunch break are jobs where you cannot use the restroom whenever you wish to. Like factory jobs or restaurant/retail jobs. That’s not the same as a fika. Those breaks are meant to give you the opportunity to use the restroom! It’s ridiculous.
Doesn't Sweden have a high suicide rate for a developed nation?
No, that is a myth. Check the stats.
As a swede i can say that everyone has fika in Sweden
Did I just spend 6 minutes watching a bunch of people take a work break?
My sentiment exactly just an excuse to make a story.
yea its a coffee break that is mandatory.
No, a fika
working in japan is tough and stressful. we should do this.
back to your desk!
Hahaha nobody would come to the catering "hazukashii". We tried many techniques, but none worked. Japanese chaps want to be paid and left alone. The days of loyalty to the company until death do us part are long gone.
😂
Better than the typical British tradition of a pint down the pub.
How so?
How about a bottle of vodka .... Russian style ?
Oh did you miss afternoon and high tea
Nothing better than grabbing a pint with the lads
dj, you would not have patience for that and you'd drink it straight from the bottle. brits are not used to glasses that much. they prefer bottles and cans.
I LOVE this concept but I would be as big as a house if I ate pastries/cookies every day at fika! 😂
I know you exaggerate but one thing also to remember about Sweden and maybe other nordic countries is that almost everyone do sports, gym or workout. So one or two cookies a day is burnt off. I think everyone even older people have physical activities that atleast equals out the intake.
We don’t eat that much as depicted in the video, usually just a cinnamon bun or something similar.
Also just think about it, you eat some sweet things during fika twice a day. That already satisfies many people need for sweets, thus you (well I for sure) would likely feel less inclined to have chocolate or something sweet after work as a snack.
Hahaha same here
The point is the break, not the exact foods or drinks. This can be adapted to any dietary needs...even if you're fasting lol. Cuz the point is about relaxing, taking things in, and enjoying yourself and others. You could even just put on some records, play a board game, then talk about the music. The benefits would be essentially the same.
Feeling lost and searching for my purpose lately.
@@TemitopeObisesan Wilford helped me join a brotherhood that changed my life.
@@TemitopeObisesan A group dedicated to making a positive impact. I can’t really say much about it.
@@TemitopeObisesan You can search for him online Wilford Robert Taylor and ask for guidance. He's always willing to help.
@@MaryTongx is it forbidden to talk about this organization? Do the first two rules explicitly state that we do not talk about this organization?
Ridiculous…
As a Swede who spent 5 years abroad, I'm quite tired of all these videos romanticizing everything about the Swedish workplace and life in general. We're not some stress-free utopia or socialist paradise. If you actually lived in Sweden you'd quickly find out that most Swedes are depressed about living here and the only thing that keeps us happy is the planning of our next trip to a warmer country.
I think coffee breaks are already very common outside Sweden. Just don't overdose on caffeine.
5-6 strongish turkish coffees a day is ok.
btw, caffeine overdose is just an euphemism for panic or hysterical fit.
It's impossible to overdose on caffeine. You'd have to drink 30+ cups a day.
Not really. Swedes literally stop working when it’s fika time and the entire office goes for coffee and talk to each other. Outside of Sweden is more like an individual choice, it can be at any time and there’s no expectation to talk to your coworkers
'Fika the social lubricant' - DId I hear that right?
Yea
Makes thing go in and out smooth
haha! It´s a Swedish saying. Like with booze: You relax and talk more openly.
So.. it's literally a coffee break. Americans have this, it's called a cigarette break. 😆
Two people with obviously Swedish accents walk into a cafe and ask how to have a real Swedish fika 😅
Telling an Italian that _Swedish fika_ will make them happier is just stating a fact well known since Fellini's, _La dolce vita._
Angelo moriondo 🇮🇹
Lmao! I’ve noticed many Swedish words either sound like a bad word in English or yea you gave a great Italian example…no one say that word in Italy unless you want to get smacked Will Smith style!
My favorites that sound bad in English:
Fart = speed
Kock = chef
Kött = meat
Slut = end/finish
Of course now I forget the other funny ones…
Sempre piaciuta la fika
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
But Italian people have a good lunch break.
Hmmm… I am a Brit and have lived in Sweden for over 30 years and can wholeheartedly confirm that this report was full of complete and utter tosh.
At work we have a 15 minute slot booked in the calendars on Friday afternoons… where whoever is on the rosta brings one or two different treats…
But 7 different things? No
Every day at 10:00 and 15:00? No
Depends on the company or if you work in the public sector where this is very common, 30 minute everyday morning fika (basically additional breakfast) and afternoon mostly on fridays fika, that's what I got when working in the public sector, but it does depend on which work or company otherwise
So the BBC is repeating a video from 2022. What a surprise. Maybe the BBC can do a video on Afternoon Tiffin. Us British, we are tiffin-mad
So a coffee and cake break then. This is done all over the world in Germany Kaffee and Kuchen in the UK as Afteenoon Tea. This is hardly revolutionary.
Basically. A difference, however, is that you also fika on your free time. It’s an activity for itself. But yeah, it’s not exclusively a Swedish/Nordic thing.
@@zwcdamien sure it’s not just like the invention of the USA coffee break to dose employees up on caffeine and more productive?
Yes.
Brits like "Scandi" everything. It's getting silly.
But is it a thing in workplaces in Germany?
@@starvictory7079 yes
It's the employment right that seems to 'revolutionary' now.
It really is anything except proper pay and security, isn't it?
I know right this is propaganda
Money isn’t everything. Good quality time spending with your friends is invaluable. Don’t be shallow.
@@zwcdamienYes, money isn’t everything, but I would quite like to not die from hypothermia
@@zwcdamien easy to say in Sweden where we get 5 weeks vacation for everyone and healthcare... job security from getting fired without reason.. parental leave is 390 days split between partners... but SURE don't be shallow and work for your overlords
Butthurt?
Are there no introverts in Sweden? Being forced to socialize twice a workday sounds tiring
If you don't want to interact you gulp down the coffee and then go for a long poo 😏
Interesting. One bit left out is the length of time set aside for a #FIKA? (15-minute break seems too short to indulge in that many snacks!)
*#Sweden** **#Wellbeing** **#BBCNews*
yeah it's usually 30 minutes
Too many Fika rules seems stressful.
As a Swedish person I would say it a big differance with a fika break or coffee break at work and how we do it privatly. Getting a break from the work with the coffee breaks is something that a lot of people do in other countries as well. Having a fika outside the work place can is an social activity that grownups do or it can be a way of getting to know somebody better without spelling out you are interested. So some fikas can be a pre date thing or an date or just shooting the breeze with a friend or friends. And saying no to an obvious date can be rough so its more sutle to ask someone if the want to have a fika sometime lol man we are fucked up ^^
Do you mean rough for the person having to say no to the date, or rough for the person being rejected? The way it's written, it sounds like the former, but you mean the latter right?
I love this thx for sharing XD
Im german, might try this at some girl to get her to know better.
"Hey Melanie, bock auf ein kleinen fick-a zwischendurch, irgendwo draußen wie die Schweden?"
I hope this as sutle as you promise 😬
Fika is an important institution, Fredagsfika is almost sacred. At the workplace you will be forgiven for occasionally not having fika with the others on other days, but not coming for Fredagsfika on Fridays is very suspicious bordering outright rude. Many distinguish between grovfika where you have sandwiches, almost a meal, and sötfika which includes sweet pastries. Grovfika is more common in the morning, sötfika more afternoon or evening.
Well for many of us having to have small talks with colleagues we don't like, is more stressful than actually working :D
pretentious becomes more pretentious
It is just a break goddammit it, why do we have to romanticize everything lol
I dare any Italian to watch this while maintaing a serious face lmao
Why? Are they coffee nazis?
@@LibertyGunsBeerTrumpfika means hmmm a part of female anatomy, I think.
No, it’s because fika sounds like the word pussy in Italian…
@@LibertyGunsBeerTrump "fika" means "pussy" in Italian
More like c**t. Very rude
So...basically tea time/coffee breaks? This is not unique to Sweden lol
Kenya has a tea time at 10am for all employees
Poor introverts can't get out of it
in Italian, fica (pronounced fika) is something that, in fact, make most men and some woman happy, at work and everywhere
Yep, this video is comically absurd knowing Italian! "For a fika you should always say yes"
😂😅
😂
My whole day is fika wake up, grind the beans, put the kettle on, brew the coffee, make a magic instant coffee for while I"m waiting for the real coffee, toast up some raisin bread with cream cheese, cookies throughout the day and cake for dessert at dinner. Fika all day long. well, work hard, save all your money, retire early, Fika All Day !!
I get more stressed having to stay late because of these coffee breaks. Remote work is the future. Why waste time socialising when you just need to get work done at work and spend time with your real friends outside of the office premises?
To decompress and to go back to your work refreshed? To be able to treat colleagues like friendly acquaintances is very important in the general working of things, and during these breaks you might even become friends with these people, we are social creatures who need a bit of rest during the day. If you are completely against such things no one is forcing you to go, you could always just try and get the time deducted so you can leave early, but you might find yourself even more stressed out.
And yet, Swedish productivity is lower than the UK. A load of fika nonsense.
Top country in the world for happiness
I’ve seen stats showing the opposite, that all Nordic countries have higher productivity than the UK.
It's not just about productively..
And yet' English is the international top language and not any Scandinavian language.😂😂😂😂
@@djzrobzombie2813e invaded you several times, like in 1066. Don't cry over spilt milk.
Nothing special or unique 🙄
Everyone at work takes a coffee break... chill. 😒
Yeah........let's just ignore the fact that Swedes are also some of the biggest consumers of antidepressants. Something tells me that might have something to do with their happiness as well.😂
"Do not talk about politics or religion" really describes our times..
It sounds like every other countries coffee tradition...only with a swedish name.
What if you don’t like having chats with your colleagues?
You're fucked. Everyone at work will go out of your way to make your life miserable
A coffee break...who knew
I used to work with a Swedish girl here in Australia and she introduced me to fika! It’s the best! It can just reset your day.
So… it’s just having coffee and cake?
I love Swedish Fika (laughs in Italian)
coffee is NOT healthy AT ALL.
this is just pretentious nonsense
Well coffee breaks a plenty in many offices all around the world , there might be a lot of stuff in the back end which makes the Swedish population quite pleased with the offices and going to them .
People will never be happy in a slave system.
What are you talking about?
@@heinedenmark You live in a slave system. duh
@@JohnofthefamilySmith How so.. Genius? I'm early retired because of a tour to Afghanistan. I get about 75.000$ pr year in benefits.
And if you get unemployed here, you'll get enough to live a decent life. And education is free 🤷♂️
@@heinedenmark All your benefits will stop soon after the planned economic crash. Your masters do not need you anymore.
@@JohnofthefamilySmith Way better than the brexit Englandistan bloke
Sounds depressing!
All the Nordic countries look so nice. When do you ever hear news about them that isn’t positive
1) Anders Behring Breivik
2) Vikings
3) 25 June 2022 pride killings
4) Vidkun Quisling?
More?
@@guff9567 did you actually bring up Viking’s as an example LOL had many raids this year have you??
In multiple countries you thought of 4 things and one of them was VIKINGS and another died in 1945 hahahaha
You’re English aren’t you
When they're helping the US blow up the Nord Stream pipeline.
Try typing, gang violence and bombing, Sweden... into google. It's not all "so nice"
@@neildeeley4177 norway has the highest death rate per capita from mass shooting the past 15 years 😢
It's common in Germany as well as "Kaffee & Kuchen" or coffee & cake in the afternoon...
Yea we have been having tea and and lunch breaks since forever nothing new to se here.
Stop touting Nordic culture as something we are supposed to follow.
Is someone in control of you? Don't fika and see who cares.
Butthurt much?
@@mountainbound1315 It's still propaganda.
@@tastypymp1287 How is showcasing coffee breaks propaganda? You need to worry about real propaganda like the extremist far right wing fascists trying to hoodwink Americans into hating and fighting each other. I recommend the short film from 1947 called "Don't be a Sucker" by the US war dept.
omg, ...here is a thing some people like to do, "A yes i like to take a coffee break and have a chat"..... the internet: "Dont tell me what to do!"
No it won't, because many Swedish people are unhappy and deeply depressed under the surface. Fika is a tradition and done out of routine, not for happiness.
That is simply not true.
you okay Jay haha
The only unique thing about Swedish “fika” is that it’s just a catchy word! Lots of countries have coffee breaks!
I think the difference is that people purposely take a break together to drink coffee together.
@@iwastubed96 Same thing happens all over southern and southeastern Europe multiple times a day. We just call it "a coffee".
@@kria9119 Great to know
@@kria9119 yeaj but it's not just coffee.. it's a bunch of pastories aswell
Doubt they do that everywhere
Fika is coffee break and talking shit about others, it's nothing special.
Can I please get the details from introverted Swedes on denying an invite to Fika to have it on your own instead 😂
Sorry, I dont drink coffee 😂😂😂
The cynical part of me thinks this sounds a little like an ad for the coffee and tea industries.
what about the cinnamon bun idustry?
And paid for by the professional gyms you need to visit if you're going to eat that much cake every day.
@@-_James_- a pastry a day doesn’t make you fat
@@-_James_- The sugar/fat contents of swedish pastry is lower than american/british
How is it that everyone is not 5 times their size from eating all that sugar??!!
because, it's not actually that much sugar as in american/british counterparts
WE LOVE SWEDISH FIKA! 😍😍😍
What if people don’t drink coffee?
Those kinda people can just go and sit nicely and silently in the corner. 😂
Makes you feel good temporarily and worse in between doses....
What a load of fika nonsense.
When issues arise around this, you could say it was a Fikal matter.
🤣 You're a pip!
Called « pause clope » in France 😂
My mentality! I was Swedish in another life. Even order of pastries make sense to me.
Go fika during peak winter in cafes near suburban areas anywhere in Sweden and expect a full heart attack.
Having two hot women 40 years younger, smile at you while having your morning coffee? (Given the thumbnail)
This is why we need to protect proper tea breaks in the UK. Also, the consumption of cakes and cookies in this manner is a big middle finger up to the idea that "bringing in cake to work is as detrimental to health as second hand smoking"...
We used to, also we used to have proper work breaks (especially if in an office no eating at your desk), my dad worked in the 1970's and he said the culture was much better but got worse until it reached the bottom that we know now in the early 00's.
That’s so much cookies and cakes multiple times everyday
There are several reasons why Swedish people may have a higher prevalence of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) compared to other countries. Firstly, Sweden is known for its strong individualistic culture, where independence and self-fulfillment are highly valued. This can lead to a sense of entitlement and self-importance, which are key characteristics of NPD. Additionally, Sweden has a high standard of living, with a strong welfare system and a relatively equal distribution of wealth. This can create a sense of superiority and a need for admiration among Swedish individuals, as they may feel that they are more successful and deserving of praise compared to others. Moreover, Sweden has a strong emphasis on self-expression and self-promotion, with social media and personal branding playing a significant role in everyday life. This constant need to present a perfect image and receive validation from others can fuel narcissistic tendencies. Furthermore, Swedish society places a strong emphasis on physical appearance, with beauty standards that may contribute to a preoccupation with one's image and a desire for admiration. Finally, the Swedish education system is highly competitive and places a strong emphasis on individual achievement. This can create a sense of competition and the need to constantly prove oneself, which can manifest as narcissistic behavior. Overall, the combination of individualistic culture, high standard of living, emphasis on self-expression, and competitive education system may contribute to the prevalence of NPD among Swedish individuals.
My dear BBC giournalists, i beg you not to send This is piece of news from Sweden to your italian Colleagues......🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 it would be a disaster!!!!!
I can't afford the calories of Fika. My American capitalist upbringing demands I make efficient use of my time. I will take my Fika at the gym.
So... anyone up for a Myg Fika? lol. 🤦🏻♂
Me ... let's not talk if you support
Corrupt politicians😂
END of PIKA😂
Wow... coffee breaks... what a revolutionary idea... how much did this waste of time video cost the UK tax payers?
No its wont, just ask an average swedish person if they love their job and doing fika during work, they will be very pissed🤣🤣
I prefer start from being paid the same ...
All these people acting like it’s nothing: but whose boss would have conniptions if they LEFT THE BUILDING and walked away down the street to have coffee. They’d get a “where are you?” Text fifteen minutes on the dot from getting up off their seats.
Any italians here finding this hilarious?? It's too perfect to be true. Send it to Maccio Capatonda please
I m just scrolling down to find Italian ppl comments …
No wonder they’re so happy, they’re consuming an incredible amount of sweets. Don’t you crash afterwards though and what about getting sugar cravings on the weekends?
I’m sorry and fika happens twice a day? With that amount of sweet stuff for each time how are the Swedes not all morbidly obese. I like my pastries, cakes and cookies and probably have too many but even I thought the amounts per sitting seems far too excessive.
I fika 'round a lot. Maybe once or twice a week. It is relaxing and does wonders for my mental health. But fika with an officemate. god forbid' that would just be unprofessional, i think.
Anglosphere: our revolutionary new research suggests that breaking from constant work to relax and connect may be good
Everyone else: yes maybe
😂 if little things matter yes of course but the big picture is that we work too long too hard and that they’re working hour in a week is also too long that’s in a lot of countries the same problem then The wages need to be considered they are declining in Europe especially over the last 20-30 years. Improved profit productivity but all the efficiency gained by IT and mechanisation in last century didn’t pay the taxes but just a decrease of wages for the majority. Policy and money is put in place only for that happy for you and her highest education. But for a builder and a manufacturing the factory recuperation period after a hard work standing water bending work it’s necessary medically just to refill thanks and with the long working hours and insufficient and well feeding they pay the price
Lovely but… so many rules for something that’s supposed to be an occasion to switch off and socialize 🤭
lolz i find this amusing they put a name, in this case ‘fika’, on something that alot of culture already has been practicing and they market it as ‘unique’…this is not unique to Sweden😊
In Norway🇳🇴, we also do a Fika ☕️🍪style breaks in the working place environment. We called this coffee break or coffee with a pastry break. It’s mostly called Coffee and pastry break (in Norwegian: Kaffe☕️🍪 og bakst pause), where we are talking about the good times and basic stuff. We enjoy ourself with a fancy or juicy pastry (like school bun, a cookie chocolate or two, or a cinnamon bun) with a black coffee or coffee with milk. ‘’We’’ and in specially 😊me, also does this when we are walking or on the move. It’s kinda gives you a happy mood and positive thoughts to progress further, when you are on the move somewhere. This is how we do some kinda of Fika style break in Norway. But, I didn’t know that the swedes🇸🇪 eats 4 different types of pastry in a Fika break! Isn’t that too much sweet stuff and pastry in lunch? 😂 Seriously, 4 pastry products in one break? We in Norway only eat one or two pastry products, and drinks a bit more coffee for each break! ☕️☕️☕️🇳🇴Heia Norge! Fika er ikke for oss!
Nej vi äter inte riktigt 4 grejer, det är mer om det är festligt, vanligtvis är det bara en kanelbulle eller några småkakor
Inte ens det skulle jag vilja påstå. En liten paus med kaffe.
I do something similar, but with Red Bull and a sugared donut. I'm 100% certain it makes me super human!
the rate at which you will die from health issues is the only super human thing
Horrific. Who is this guy? Fika at 3? Blasphemy! 2:30 is the holy fika time.
This is for the north european cultures, were you do not really socially interact at the workplace, so you need a kind of frame to do that. In the south for example people and colleagues wiil talk to you the whole time, so why would they need to have a fika in the first place? :D
Fika is not only a way to frink coffee with colleages but also a way of life.
ive lived it it wasn't for me
yet sweden has one of thee highest suicie rates
@@asmith9140 different taste for different people
How is this country not severely overweight?? Seriously, what is their trick?
Listening to music makes you happy at work 😁👍
The BBC has shown this video a few years ago. The Fika is a great idea.
what kind of mosters don't have fika every day? Oh everyone else... ok then.
While in America they do not even have basic workers right's.
Great idea !¡❤ Gives everyone a boost to continue working the rest if the day 😊
its common everywhere but its not called fika.
As an Italian i can confirm that the Fika is a way of life for us
Came here for this, not disappointed
10. 2. 4. Sounds like a Dr Pepper commercial😀
For Italian men, fika is the first thought waking up each morning