Discussion forum > German news and life > Life in Germany

Office etiquette differences UK/Germany

Getting colleagues to respect each other

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MonksTown

28.Jun.2008 21:53 hrs

I work in an international environment and all I have to say is that the British need to get more open-minded, learn some common manners and start to realise that cultural differences in tone of voice, actions and reactions and work standards and expectations really do exist. There is no "one size fits all" model.

Especially true in an international business environment. If you want to work there, get with it.

Just a wee bit of editing there.

Bipa

28.Jun.2008 23:32 hrs

German business culture is fairly easy to understand. Just pretend that you're in the army, and it will all make sense.

[sub](if it moves, salute it... if it doesn't, paint it!)[/sub]

Kazalphaville

29.Jun.2008 17:44 hrs

Just a wee bit of editing there.

Yeah, you could say that too, I admit it but in my experiences, Brits adapt to international schools much better. Or maybe it's just me that has a more open mind.

onemark

01.Jul.2008 17:16 hrs

To Monkstown (Mahlzeit / youtube): Great! Yet more proof that Germans really do possess a sense of humour.
Expaticus (Mahlzeit - being crushed emotionally): Maybe, but those days are gone. They need to move on.

don_riina

01.Jul.2008 18:29 hrs

with their english colleagues who they interface with daily

Interface?

all the emails are in english as we are interfacing with the uk

Interfacing?!?

Please. Stop. That word cannot be used like that. Atall. Ever. Just for the record, though not specifically applying to the OP, a 'problem' is just that. It is not a challenge, it is a problem. If you say challenge, we know you mean problem, and we also know that you think that it is negative to call a problem a problem, so you instead choose 'challenge' instead os saying problem, which is what you really mean. You look like a fuckwit. Don't ever do that. Oh, and anyone ending an email with "kind regards" comes across as a twat by the way. Oh yeah man, also, anyone using a stupid font for their email signature, so that it looks like fucking joined up writing, or copperplate or some shit, well, they deserve to be beaten up by loads of big blokes with sticks and stuff.

the sister company that merged into ours have that DREADUL habit of walking round the building telling people they have sent them an e mail

I've PMed you about that.

HEM

01.Jul.2008 18:36 hrs

Interface?

That's where the answer to the question usually stares...

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