The Nordic country, which has vacancies open to foreigners, including Brazilians, offers a maximum 40-hour workweek, extended holidays and even a place to nap in the office
In 2021, game designer Ana Camargo, 29, decided to make a radical change: she switched her established career in Brazil to take risks in the job market of Finland for flexibility and quality of life. Before, I worked 14 hours a day. Today the daily journey does not exceed seven hours. Like Ana, other Brazilians are moving to the Nordic country in search of a slower lifestyle, with shorter working hours and a more flexible professional culture.
In 2023, for the sixth consecutive year, Finland was considered the happiest country in the world, according to the Global Happiness Report. The country offers vacancies for foreign workers, including Brazilians.
Finland has low levels of social inequality, as well as high levels of security and investment in education, but also faces darkness and cold over the course of four months. What attracted the Brazilians?
More balance between work and private life
The climatic conditions are compensated by a more balanced way of working, says Maria José Tonelli, full professor at FGV-Eaesp and coordinator of the Center for Studies on Organizations and People.
Tonelli explains that these differences were accentuated during the covid-19 health crisis. “Brazil is very ‘presentist’. So, after the pandemic, many companies have returned to the traditional (in-person) model,” he assesses.
Another factor at play is the imbalance between time dedicated to work and pay. “We ask a lot and pay little. It’s a very high demand to earn relatively little compared to the international scene”.
In Brazil, the working week can be up to 44 hours. Finnish law sets an upper limit of 40 hours per week. However, workers have the autonomy – provided by law – to negotiate a reduction in working hours.
In the ranking of nations with the longest working hours, Brazil occupies 10th place, according to the latest data from the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).
The survey suggests that Brazilians spend more time on work than on personal care, while Finns spend 63% of the day – or 15.2 hours – on personal life.
See the data on Brazil and Finland in the graph below:
Work organization in Brazil differs from the format practiced abroad, says Professor Tonelli. “You work 9am to 5pm, you don’t go out for lunch, you just have a snack and the main meal of the day is dinner with the family at 7pm. It’s hard work from 9am to 5pm. “
The Brazilian felt guilty for not working overtime
Ana Camargo arrived in Finland determined to separate her personal and professional life. What she didn’t imagine was that adaptation to the new work culture wouldn’t be immediate. “I felt guilty for not working overtime,” she recalls.
The breakthrough came when the owner of the business called attention to her for staying five hours overtime to deliver a project. “I was forced to realize that life was more than work,” she relates.
Gradually, the game designer realized that she would not be punished for late delivery. The mental health philosophy has given way to new hobbies, including adventure sports. “They say here that if you’re not mentally well you won’t be a good worker.”
“As silly as it sounds, sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t produce, earn money, but in the end I’m producing my rest,” she says with relief.
In São Paulo, Ana had a salary of around R$13,000. In Finland, she earns 4,500 euros (R $24,000) gross per month. The current salary, according to the professional, pays more because basic expenses, such as rent, are lower.
Fewer hours worked after burnout in Brazil
In the case of publicist Bianca Alves, 26, who also lives in Finland, earnings today are almost three times higher than the remuneration she received in Brazil (she does not disclose the amounts).
The biggest impact was on work routine. Three years ago, while working at a multinational bank in São Paulo, he was diagnosed with burnout.
After the episode, the young woman combined the desire to live in Europe with the desire to have a slower life. Germany and Portugal were options, but Finland was chosen.
In the countryside Bianca also comes across a job that contrasts with her daily life. “I thought I didn’t do enough,” she says.
In HelsinkiFinnish capital, Bianca works in the market management area of ​​a global cyber security company and is responsible for all clients in Latin America.
His work routine also includes a nap in the middle of the office, where there is an individual nap pod.
Overtime is frowned upon
“Here, if you work overtime, you’re seen as a bad employee because you don’t get the work done within the hours you’re hired.”
It took some time to get used to the new reality, which differs not only in the short working hours and flexibility, but also in the level of trust placed in its employees.
“At 4pm it’s like a train passes the company, everyone disappears. Sometimes I go to the beach at 6pm. So there’s still a lot of life after work,” she says.
Slower career advancement
But that doesn’t mean working in the happiest country in the world is a bed of roses. The manager acknowledges that career development in Finland is slower, taking into account the size of the population and the small and uncompetitive market. Another aspect is the salary difference between positions, which is significantly smaller than in Brazil.
Despite this counterpoint, Bianca excludes any possibility of returning permanently to her native country. “I wouldn’t go back even for the best job in Brazil. This ‘workaholic’ culture of always doing more is something I can’t deal with,” she says.
Satisfaction of being at work
Senior 3D game artist Igor Campos, 42, is another Brazilian who moved to Finland around 2021 in search of better working conditions and hasn’t regretted it. This is not your first job abroad.
In Brazil, he lived in Recife and worked remotely for a company in Singapore, but could not adjust due to the time difference.
“I had to wake up at dawn to work, and the time to sleep was very limited. That’s when I thought about getting something to live abroad,” she recalls.
The choice of the Nordic country was not accidental, the artist was aware of the gaming market and the culture of well-being at work. “Here they want to know how you are and make you happy to be there,” she relates.
For example, Campos has direct access to the CEO of the game company he works for, which has 110 employees. “Everyone can speak as if they belong to the same hierarchy, you feel that everyone is part of the same team,” he says.
“There’s also a maturity to the business, the work is very flexible, you can leave early to do something you like.” In financial terms, what you get and what you spend is more balanced. Now he earns 45% more than in Brazil (he did not reveal the values).
“Company employees later told me they were having difficulty finding qualified candidates in Finland.”
While Finland wins, Brazil loses skilled manpower
About 2,466 Brazilians live legally in the Nordic country, according to the most recent data from the Statistical Service of Finland. While there is no survey that accurately maps the position they occupy, there is consensus in the market that professionals in IT areas and adjacent industries are the most sought after. To say it is Maria José Tonelli, of the FGV.
“Today the market is not local, it is global. So, Brazilians with good qualifications are competent to be in this job market. They don’t need to be limited to Brazil, they can swim in any lake,” he says.
Tonelli believes that the behavior of Brazilian companies is responsible for the loss of talent. “The big problem in companies is hiring ‘hard’ and firing ‘soft’. Because they don’t know how to deal with humans and make a team work well. Nobody motivates anyone, but demotivating is very easy”.
Areas that have openings for Brazilians abroad
According to the professor’s assessment, technology professionals are not the only ones attracting interest in the Finnish market. Workers in the science and education sectors, as well as Brazilian pilots and executives, are also more likely to receive job offers and apply for overseas positions.
While skilled workers have more options when applying for jobs, Brazil is at risk of losing talent in several areas.
“It is necessary for organizations to prepare and change leadership styles and make a change of mindset,” says the professor, adding that organizations can no longer waste time.
“You have a generation that arrives and doesn’t want it anymore (exhaustive organizational models). So companies have to adapt”.
Source: Terra

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.