Norway is known for its emphasis on happy workers and has a strong tradition of trade unions. Norwegian society is also very much based on trust, which generally makes it easier for you to build relations and get involved. As an employee you are encouraged to speak up, and there are rights in place to make sure you’re feeling safe and content at work (see under “Rights and opportunities” for more information).

Out of the many Norwegian quirks, the “matpakke” is impossible to miss, especially at work. This is a packed lunch, often involving slices of bread with cheese or jam and perhaps a fruit or yogurt. Norwegians eat lunch much earlier than the rest of Europe, usually around 11 or 12. If you feel like Norwegians tend to talk about the weather a lot, you are probably right. This is a way of making polite chit chat, and can often be heard in formal settings.

For more tips on how to crack the social codes in Norway, please have a look through our “Social Life & Culture” section. You might also want to visit the blog A frog in the fjord, written by a French expat, musing over the many Norwegian cultural codes. The Social Guidebook by Canadian Julien Bourelle and the Norway Way books by Australian Jenny K. Blake are also fun and useful.