Comments on: When Work Ethics Collide for Cultural Reasons

By: WebWorkerDaily » Archive Web Working in a Borderless World «

WebWorkerDaily » Archive Web Working in a Borderless World « — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:53:40 +0000

[...] clash. The best way to avoid this is by managing expectations from the start. Here’s what fellow WWD blogger Pamela Poole had to say about this: “If you find yourself working with people from other cultures, my advice is to be very [...]

By: Foo Thoughts » Blog Archive » Web Worker Daily

Foo Thoughts » Blog Archive » Web Worker Daily — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:05:23 +0000

[...] When Work Ethics Collide for Cultural Reasons [...]

By: 5 links of the week | Not Geekly Correct

5 links of the week | Not Geekly Correct — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:23:52 +0000

[...] Poole, via WebWorkerDaily made a post on the French way of work during August, I was thinking doing the same for the English ;). But, to be honest, she is completely [...]

By: Pamela Poole

Pamela Poole — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:02:09 +0000

This is all fabulous feedback! When our developer came over from London for the meet and greet/contract signing, we spent two hours savoring our lunch, including beer and wine… At one point afterwards, he and I were standing off to the side and he commented about how different Paris was than London. I asked what he meant and he said “Everybody here is so much more relaxed. In London they’re all talking on their cell phones and looking at their blackberries and rushing somewhere.” Of course it’s a better way to live. You’ll get no argument from me there! But one of the issues I wanted to point out with this post was that assumptions and expectations regarding work are often pretty deeply ingrained, and we’re often unaware of them until we find ourselves in a situation where there is a contrast. It’s been a learning experience and a challenge, both things I like!

By: samuel from Toulouse, France

samuel from Toulouse, France — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:53:51 +0000

Enjoying all the good stuff live can offer…is work ! can’t write more, got to go to lunch !

By: LHB

LHB — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:55:40 +0000

Unfortunately, I think it’s part of the American business culture to think that you’re “king” if you’re the one with the money and that the American way of business is the only real way to do business. My primary US contract has freelancers across the world however the expectation has been that they work to us without any give towards their cultures. The result has been a loss of the most talented freelancers and an increase in freelancing cost because now most of the work needs a second “vetting” before it can be released. With the talented freelancers, it was correct from the get go.

By: Kevin S. Brady

Kevin S. Brady — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:30:23 +0000

There are some notable cultural quirks, such as surfing-related absenteeism during high tides in Hawaii, etc. But in general, be aware of national and religious holidays observed in nations where you have partnerships and do business. I’ve seen a few teleconferences that missed key people due to “bank holidays.”

By: Trina E. Roach

Trina E. Roach — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:03:00 +0000

As an American who’s lived and worked in Europe for more than 30 yrs. now (mostly in Germany), I think the real challenge is getting over the idea that there is a ‘right’ way to do business – and that that way is your way. *smile*

I look forward to working with partners who will deliver quality work in order to ensure the success of whatever endeavor I’m involved in. Period. How they get from A to B on their particular leg of a project is up to their own discretion.

Anyone handling a cross-cultural project has to make sensitivity to both cultural and individual differences a high priority, and adjust project planning to reflect the specifics of the people/nations involved. Ofttimes that means simply communicating openly about things that would otherwise be no-brainers, and asking questions that – within a monocultural context – might seem elementary.

It really is the only way to ensure that people are all on the same page – and that people’s individual needs and work patterns are being addressed in a way that benefits the outcome of the project.

By: Pat

Pat — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:16:20 +0000

I’m a french man working with Americans and I must admit that this year I took 3 weeks off and did NOT check my emails at all while on vacation. :-)

Actually checking professional emails while on vacation is very weird to most people here.

I agree with you that this is a pain for “hot” projects that have a summer deadline. This causes serious delays, like the one I’m currently working on. (My colleages took 3 to 4 weeks OFF, and not at the the same dates so you never get the people you need in July and August…)

Oh, and you’re absolutely right when you say “when they’re at lunch, they’re savoring the food and, not infrequently, a glass of wine or beer” ;-)

By: sknob

sknob — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:51:42 +0000

48% of the French haven’t taken a vacation in the last year (http://www.liberation.fr/actualite/societe/348857.FR.php).

Unfortunately for your project, your partners weren’t in that group.

By: LeahM

LeahM — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:21:07 +0000

As an American living and working in France too, I can relate. First few summers here made me pull my hair out!

I’ve learned to adapt….”when in Rome….” and all that. Nobody starts projects in June. Unless they are ones that can be put to sleep for a couple of months.

I suspect that this habit of really valuing the personal life and protecting it from the work part of life is maybe what makes for the lower heart problem rates- it’s not just the diet.
I enjoyed your writing!

By: SarahD

SarahD — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:04:36 +0000

As you say, American companies are France’s highest investors. So they are probably far more aware of how Americans operate than Americans are of how they operate!
What might be a little hard to swallow is that while they do understand all this, they’ve chosen not to care what kind of an impact their great approach to work-life balance has on partners who don’t understand them ;)

In my experience, the best way to deal with cultural encounters like this is to just accept, and move on to thinking about what you need to do to get the job done. If you can understand, then all the better, but accepting that maybe you never will saves a lot of frustration and gnashing of teeth. And look on the bright side – working through this will give you something to factor in the next time you are planning a project with any overseas partner.

By: Rob Clayburn

Rob Clayburn — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:27:00 +0000

Nice write up! I’m British living in France for the last 5 years and I do a lot of web work with Americans.
I’d say that the Brits take the middle ground between the states and France. We don’t expect people to work weekends (a lot of my US clients are surprised when I don’t), but then again we don’t have the 4 week obligatory holiday in August like the French do.
I have to say that when I first came to France it was frustrating to not have shops open on Sundays or at lunch time, but now its simply a part of life – and my quality of life is so much better for it.
Take holidays, long lunches and afternoons off – it quality not quantity that counts! – I read somewhere that Roal Ddahl would work 4 hours a day – and yet his writing is pure creativity!