According to a recent Business Insider article, we could learn a thing or two about happiness at work from Denmark, the happiest country in the world (according to international studies). The article lists some tips from the Scandinavian country on how Americans can make work a happier place.

1. Make time off mandatory.
Danish law provides employees with five weeks of paid time off per year, and Danes works 200 hours less than Americans. Mandatory vacation policies show employees the value of a healthy work-life balance and signify the impact it can have on their well-being.

For cancer survivors, in particular, not having access to enough — or, in some cases, any — vacation days can be extremely challenging. So it’s important to know what your options are. For example, could you access the Family and Medical Leave Act to take time off? Or request a change in your schedule as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA?

2. Seek emotionally intelligent managers.

Good managers think about their employees as people with emotions. Good managers also score high on emotional intelligence tests and encourage employees to talk through their feelings.

Unfortunately, not all supervisors are tuned in to their employees’ emotions, and not all will react in an appropriate and supportive way to the news that one of their staff has been diagnosed with cancer.

If you are trying to decide whether to share your diagnosis with your employer, it’s a good idea to think about how your boss might respond to the news. If you have already disclosed your diagnosis at work or are planning to do so, check out our Manager’s Kit and consider sharing it with your boss. It can help start or smooth the conversation. Click here to download a free copy.

For additional information, check out our At Work section.