The retail sector in Sweden has an outstanding productivity ratio in comparison to retailsectors in other countries. In this paper we claim that the main reason to this is the HRMpractice on store level in Sweden. International research presents a grim picture of the retailworkplace. Because of fierce price competition personnel are subjected to high demands forflexibility in working hours and suffer from low salaries, poor working conditions and little orno employer provided education and training resulting in a low level of employee workmotivation, responsibility and productivity. Our research constrasts this picture and showsthat the workplace in Swedish retailing is characterized by mutually trusting and cooperativerelationships between managers and co-workers, leading to employee commitment andacceptance of responsibility. We mainly explain our conclusions that differ from those ofinternational retailing research by the principal fact that standards and values from otherSwedish work sectors are also found in the Swedish retail sector.