Over a year ago I worked for a Danish financial institution as a web programmer. The job was well paid and the work place moral good. This changed after the Icelandic government nationalised Glitnir at the end of September 2008. From then on my employers were more or less edgy and a week after the emergency law was introduced I was called into a meeting where I was told that the bank couldn’t employ me anymore. The reason was supposed to be downsizing, which I found hard to believe as the bank was one of the few in Denmark which was solid and still is.
A few weeks later I heard from my former colleagues that my bosses had feared for the reputation of the bank if it were known that their internet bank and web-site user interface were managed by an Icelander. As I could not get this confirmed officially I could not seek my rights.
I soon discovered that the bank was not the only company which doubted the integrity of Icelanders. Wherever I sought employment the doors were usually shut when my nationality was brought up. I then decided to try to not mention anywhere where I was from and even stopped using Icelandic letters when I wrote my name. And lo and behold, as soon as Iceland was nowhere mentioned, interviews were easy to come by and a few weeks later I had a job.
Still today I don’t mention beforehand where I am from and try to not let on too much. Which is terrible. Once I was proud to be an Icelander. Today it is a burden and it has been so for over a year. What makes this even worse is that thanks to certain politicians back in Iceland, it looks like this is going to be the case for a few more years.
From the blog of an Icelander in Denmark
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Tim66n
2 years ago
That is so sad. To have to hide your origins of nationality because of the shame brought down on a whole country by a few individuals and institutions. Perhaps one day it will change and individuals will be held accountable instead of nations.