Your new employee is probably keen to get started on the job. Therefore, you should offer as much help as possible before and when he or she arrives, especially in regards to taking care of formalities and paperwork.
Formalities and paperwork
Your foreign employee may need help with e.g. obtaining a residence and work permit (non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens), residence document (EU/EEA/Swiss citizen), a CPR number and a tax card. At icitizen.dk you find a checklist in Danish about with registration guidelines.
You also find a checklist in English for your new employees “How to register and what to bring” including all relevant addresses, opening hours and link to the necessary forms.
Visit Icitizen.dk
Childcare, bank, housing, insurance, driving license, language course, vehicle, unemployment insurance etc.
When newly arrived in Denmark there are lot of important issues to be aware of. In our Welcome to Denmark handbook you and your employee find answers to most common questions.
Welcome to Denmark handbook (New window)
Workplace culture
Danish workplace culture may seem very different from what your foreign employee is used to from home. The flat hierarchy, knowledge sharing, flexible working hours and the generally informal tone of voice in the Danish workplace can be a surprise if he/she is used to things being done differently.
Workindenmark offers an e-learning module on Danish workplace culture:
An introduction to Danish workplace culture. The module explains how to navigate in a Danish workplace and how to deal with situations which may be unfamiliar to your new employee from abroad. The module is one of the four modules in Workindenmark's e-learning course on “Make it Work in Denmark”.
Start Workindenmark's e-learning course “Make It Work in Denmark”
It is necessary for your employee to have a profile at Workindenmark.dk to start the course.
Create a profile at workindenmark.dk
Many companies appoint an experience employee as a mentor to assist on practical matters.
Language
One of the keys to social interaction is learning Danish. Even though most of your employees probably speak English, it is a good idea to encourage your foreign employee to start learning Danish. Language courses are often offered by a series of Danish language centers. If your employee is interested in learning Danish, you may recommend that he contact a local municipal citizen service center (Danish: Borgerservice) for further advice.
Further information on Danish language courses
De Danske Sprogcentre's guide on Danish language for for non-Danish employees "Dansk på jobbet" (Danish at work) (new window)
Help to your employee's spouse/partner
Experience shows that the spouse/partner feels more settled in Denmark, if he or she has a job, is undergoing an education or carrying out volunteer work. This can bring the spouse/partner a sense of belonging to Denmark, as well as help them build his/her own local social networks.
Find information about job search seminars, video tutorials, e-learning program about job search in Denmark on our website
It is also possible for the spouse/partner to develop a network by becoming involved in volunteer work. You can find volunteerings positions at different websites.
Find volunteering positions at www.volunteering.dk
Social life and integration
Sometimes little things can make a great difference. Remember to encourage your new employee to accompany colleagues in the workplace for lunch and invite the employee to take part in social activities, such as summer and Christmas parties – or join the running club at work or an association outside work. Across Denmark you find public and private initiatives which support the social integration for newcomers to Denmark. The local library can guide you about the initiatives.