Category: Lifestyle

A study in Icelandic government offices again shows the benefits of a shorter workweek. Productivity rose enough to ensure that all services were still provided as needed. Because of the study’s success, 86 percent of Icelanders now or soon will have the right to a shorter workweek. Having rolled out a major program that reduced the work hours of more than 2,500 workers to four days per week, Iceland is calling the trials “a major success.” “Workers experienced significant increases in wellbeing and work-life balance — all while existing levels…

Sweden’s King Carl XVI celebrated his 75th birthday on Friday, but due to the pandemic celebrations were kept to a minimum, without the lavish flair of a royal anniversary. In contrast to the monarch’s 70th birthday when people lined the streets of Stockholm to fete him, the Swedish Royal Court said celebrations would be “limited” because of the pandemic. Instead of playing host to royals from other countries, smaller receptions were planned for the the morning with Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and other senior politicians, and one with representatives from…

Finland has been named the happiest place in the world for a fourth year running, in an annual UN-sponsored report. The World Happiness Report saw Denmark in second place, then Switzerland, Iceland and the Netherlands. New Zealand was again the only non-European nation in the top 10. The UK fell from 13th to 17th place. Data from analytics researcher Gallup asked people in 149 countries to rate their own happiness. Measures including social support, personal freedom, gross domestic product (GDP) and levels of corruption were also factored in. The country…