German Business Culture – Offering A More Flexible Work Environment For Employees
Over the past several years Germany has emerged as a popular destination amongst business investors seeking new avenues and markets to expand their venture. However, most overseas business organizations setting up operations in Germany fail to recognize the significance of understanding the German business culture. This proves to be a major hindrance not only in terms of recruiting the best talent but also in the overall growth of the organization. That is why the best recruitment company Germany makes it a point to educate its clients about the unique business culture of the country. Discussed below are the three main aspects of this culture that the overseas business organizations need to be aware of. Flexibility In Terms Of Timing
German business culture focuses more on the actual work hours put in by the employees rather than when they arrive or leave. This provides a flexible working time to individual employees in accordance with their convenience and comfort. According to the best recruitment agency Germany, this helps to ensure better productivity as the employees do not have to face the stress of being penalized for arriving late or leaving early. The flexibility is also applicable to coffee and lunch breaks which generally results in the employees being more focused and willing to work when they resume their duties. Punctuality Despite the flexibility in work times displayed, particularly for white collar jobs, Germans like and expect people to be punctual for appointments. This is also a sign of respect. Whereas in southern European countries this may not be quite as important, in Germany it is expected. If a meeting is at 10:00 AM then it is at 10:00 AM, not at 10:15. If a partner can’t make it on time then it is polite to ring up and say that one will be late. 15 minutes is still considered to be acceptable. The most popular excuse for being late is, of course, traffic. Significance Of Titles Using proper names and titles while communicating with people, especially those working at higher levels, is extremely important. It is quite common for people to list their title and qualifications on their business cards. Renowned recruitment agencies such as Contacts & Management make sure to inform their clients about using the title and surname of the recipients in any type of written communication, including those sent through e-mail. Failing to do so is considered to be disrespectful towards the recipients and can cause a serious dent in the business relationships. This, however is only true when speaking German. When speaking English it is usual to address people with their first name and to omit the titles. Germans, being quite international, are used to the English / American forms of address when speaking English. Adherence To Impressive Dress Code
The German workforce dresses not only keeping in mind its practicality as per their job, but also the type of impression it lays on onlookers. Even the casual dresses are worn with a sense of style and elegance. The choice of dress also depends on the position of the employee within the company hierarchy. While secretaries and junior level employees tend to dress in a casual manner, the dress code becomes more formal and impressive as individuals climb the corporate ladder. In fact it would not be wrong to state that the type of dress worn is not just to enhance the appearance of an individual but also to signify the position of power being enjoyed by them within the corporate work environment. Nonetheless, even in conservative Germany, dress code is changing and is becoming more casual. Nowadays it is no longer absolutely necessary to appear with a tie. Even the CEO of Daimler has taken on a more casual look.