Organisational Inclusion of Non-EU IT Professsionals in Danish Firms

Sammanfattning

This project examines how organisational cultures in Danish firms shape the inclusion experiences of non-EU IT professionals. While Denmark increasingly relies on international skilled labour, less attention has been given to how these professionals experience inclusion within everyday organisational life after initial recruitment and onboarding process. The aim of this study is therefore to explore how organisational practices, workplace interactions, and structural conditions influence experiences of belonging and participation. The study is based on a qualitative research design with a social constructivist approach. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 11 non-EU IT professionals working in Danish organisations in the greater Copenhagen area. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and interpreted through theories of organisational culture and workplace inclusion. The findings show that inclusion is a dynamic and multi-level process shaped by organisational support practices, daily workplace interactions, and broader structural conditions. Participants generally experienced Danish workplaces as supportive and professionally inclusive, particularly in the early stages of employment, where flat hierarchies, autonomy, and work-life balance contributed to positive perceptions of inclusion. However, over time, challenges emerged in relation to informal social interaction, cultural expectations and long-term integration. In addition, structural factors such as visa dependency and administrative regulations significantly influenced participants’ sense of stability and long-term belonging. The project concludes that while Danish organisations are often successful in creating initial feelings of professional inclusion, sustained inclusion requires continuous attention to social integration, cultural awareness, and structural conditions that shape the experiences of non-EU professionals.