Comments on: Job lock vs. flexicurity. What would you prefer?

By: catharina sellin

catharina sellin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:39:53 +0000

The high benefits and training provision that this system requires also require a higher burden of taxation upon the higher earning members of the society. Denmark currently has the highest total taxation of any country in the world, but the Danes have been consistently ranked as the happiest nation on Earth. Besides, Denmark’s low unemployment figures (5% in 2010) and its low social exclusion rates are coupled to a high output growth.

By: Lucia

Lucia — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:58:53 +0000

The system encouraging people to change the job if they are not happy with the old one sounds amazing. But I would love to know if it really works for different job categories.
For those who are currently unhappy with a job and are looking for a new one there are some offers:http://www.denmark.net/jobs

By: Janice

Janice — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:15:07 +0000

So interesting to hear opinions from people in other countries. Also, employer-based health insurance excludes a lot of people who work part-time, are contractors or self-employed, and who work for small businesses that aren’t required (and often can’t afford) to provide health insurance for their employees. Many of these people do not currently qualify for Medicaid, and buying private insurance is not only expensive (it is upwards of $12,000 a year for both my parents, who are self-employed and went without for years when I was growing up b/c we could not afford it) but can also be very difficult just to obtain if you have certain health conditions, even if you can afford to pay the higher premiums.

I’m not yet sure how I feel about the single-payer system, not knowing enough about how they work, but I am strongly in favour of a public option to at least provide an affordable option to those currently without access to health insurance and regular preventative care, not to mention competition for some private insurers. If private insurers truly offer such great service and are the best way of providing Americans with health care, why are they so afraid to prove it?

By: Squish

Squish — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:13:36 +0000

Wow, never thought about our health care system in this way. I recently changed jobs and had to factor health care into the equation for a couple reasons: 1) I am the breadwinner and responsible for providing health care for my family, which includes a young child with asthma, and 2) the differing benefits represented a significant income impact (when looking at salary differences, it was about 10% of the overall change). So, yes, this played a role in my decision to leave a job, which I hated, and move to a job, which I LOVE.

BTW, the Cheif Happiness Officer helped me on this journey. It’s amazing, I work longer hours (while still maintaining work/life balance) but am happier. The culture rewards/encourages friendliness – I love it!!

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:56:43 +0000

I am in that situation. I am 50 and have severe Rheumatoid arthritis. The medicine I take costs $1500 a month. With the company’s insurance plan, I pay only $15 a month. I cannot leave this job for the risk of not having the insurance.

By: peter

peter — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:56:03 +0000

alexander: the 90% unemployment benefit is only for (some) people with (private) insurance – and thus has little (nothing) to do with taxes.

if you don’t have insurance (usually called “a-kasse”) you are only eligible to receive “kontanthjælp” which is very low compared to the danish living costs.. (and you are only eligible for “kontanthjælp” if you have no savings/fortune).

think flexicurity is more in the line of liberal labour laws (easy to lay off people), separation of health benefits and employment, and the government activating the laid off work force.. education, counselling, internships etc. – and less to do with people having private insurance..

btw: more and more danes opt for no unemployment insurance..

By: Parker

Parker — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:30:10 +0000

Great article, but it leaves out one thing. US companies increasingly are shifting their health care coverage to so-called HSA’s (health savings accounts). In a nutshell this is nothing more than catastrophic health coverage, everything else coming out of the employee’s pocket 100% until a specific ceiling is passed ($5K – $10K). Some employers do offer contributing funds (mine), others do not (my bride’s). So if your budget is tight to begin with, and have reasonable health, that limit never gets reached and you’re screwed. Basically, it’s getting much tougher to find new employment with real health benefits anymore.
If I could convince my bride to relocate, I’d have her brush up on her Danish. :)

By: Alexander

Alexander — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:48:05 +0000

Prescott: Glad to hear you agree – I had no idea health insurance cost had risen so steeply of late.

Frode: It’s good to be Scandinavian, ain’t it?

By: Frode H

Frode H — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:56:47 +0000

Here in Norway it’s pretty much like in Denmark, but it is harder to fire someone.

I have a son with a severe diagnose that demand medicine and special attention. The cost of it, for me is less than one time to the pub per month (and I do not drink a lot…). We would not be able to make it in USA unless we had good jobs with great benefits. And if I on top of a demanding domestic situation should hate my job, and be stuck, well, I would probably end up a loony toon in no time at all. I do not know the numbers, but dreading to go to work generate a lot of sick days, and people at my job, that are often sick are often unhappy at work.

Alex, you must have a huge market in creating happy workplaces in USA :)

By: Prescott Perez-Fox

Prescott Perez-Fox — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:04:22 +0000

Alex, you’ve pretty much hit it on the head. The US system locks people in to terrible jobs, prevents them from moving to new cities, starting small businesses, chasing their dreams, and being happy at work.

Perhaps the problem wouldn’t be so dramatic if health care costs didn’t rise some 400% in the last ten years — way out of proportion with inflation. But because of corporate lobbying from health care providers and pharmaceutical companies, it will be hard to change the minds of elected officials, even if the people want change.

So yea, it sucks. If a tremendous number of people are working solely so they don’t lose health care coverage, what sort of passion is going into their work? Let’s ask GM.