Did you know...? There are more than two million saunas in Finland.
It is common to greet each other with a handshake. Useful topics for small talk are the weather, music, sports, nature, art, etc. The small talk phase does not last very long and business topics are starting straight afterwards.
Many Finnish companies have very low hierarchies. That is why a lot of co-workers address each other by first names. It is quite common to work full-time, but many Finns manage to avoid doing overtime.
At work, lunch is eaten at some point between 11am and 2pm. It is common that business talks and topics about work are going on over the breaks.
Business is very important in Finland and Finns take spoken agreements very seriously. Sometimes an oral agreement has the same worth as a written contract. Therefore, honesty and clarity are important characteristics for Finnish communication. Finns are also very discreet with their private lives as well as they do not appreciate loud voices in public. It is also not always necessary to break the silence, because it gives time to think and to enjoy each other’s company.
Like all Nordic societies, Finns appreciate an effective time management and the respect for private and leisure time. Therefore, punctuality is not only polite, but highly required. If you can expect a delay, you should let your co-workers know.