The Working Day

A friend from South Africa told me that the first thing she does when she gets home from work is to take off her wristwatch. When she mentioned this I was almost shocked. I am so used to wearing a watch that I only take it off in bed, and not always then. When I thought about this I realized that for good or ill, I had carried over the clock consciousness that was so important in my working life to my non-working life. But where does work begin and end? Our working days are punctuated by other things like eating , sleeping, talking to our friends , and even praying (if we are religious Muslims).

External factors play a part too. If the temperature regularly goes over eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit in the early afternoon, it makes sense to take a siesta and work later in the evening instead. The hours we work are also influenced by our gender, which may even determine if we are allowed to work outside the home at all. In Saudi Arabia, the kinds of jobs open to women are strictly limited, while until 2000 there was a law on the French statute books that forbade women (except in nursing) to work nightshifts.

And speaking of statutes, of course unions and social legislation have had their part to play in limiting the working day and indeed the working week. Taking France again as an example, the government decided in 2000 that its citizens should work a maximum of thirty-five hours a week. Though a lot of French people work longer hours than this, the working day for many French people ends at 4:00 instead of 5:00 P.M. In Britain, on the other hand, the long hours culture, which the government has done nothing to hinder, means that the average person there works the longest hours in Europe, 43.6 hours per week in 2002.

There is a strong element of tradition in how we divide up the day. A Swedish mechanic I know who was sent to a French workshop to solve a technical problem was surprised by a couple of things when he got there. The first was that the lunch break started an hour and three- quarters later than the 11:15 A.M. that he was used to. And then at the stroke of 1:00 P.M. the lights were switched off in the workshop, while he was halfway through a difficult job, and everyone went to a nearby restaurant for lunch. But at 4:00 P.M., which was technically the end of the working day, and when at home the Swede would have been getting his coat on, everyone ignored the clock and stayed to get things finished. There was no hurry to get home, but being late for the midday meal would have been a cardinal sin.

LETTERS 101 “102

The early bird catches the worm is a saying familiar in many parts of the English-speaking world. However, it is not necessarily one that translates well to other cultures.

Too early? Letter 101

FROM FINLAND ABOUT SOUTH KOREA

I realized I had made a big mistake on my last visit to South Korea when I asked the manager I wanted to meet if I could see him at 8:30

A.M. This would be quite natural in Finland, but I could see from his reaction that this was certainly not the custom there.

In South Korea, the usual time for business is from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., as it is in many other countries. In fact, the Nordic countries are exceptional in their early starts at the office, despite these same countries being pitch black on winter mornings until after 9:00 A.M. The flextime system is widespread there, and it s not unusual for white- collar Finnish workers to be at their desks at 7:30 A.M. or even earlier.

In other cultures, where entertaining customers or spending free time with colleagues in the evenings is the norm, late nights of socializing (with or without the use of alcohol) can mean that early starts may not be popular. So Italian, Mexican, and Russian managers might be just as unprepared for an early meeting as the South Korean manager. (In fact, in Russia, avoid planning any meetings on Monday mornings.) But this may not be the only reason for the manager s reaction to the suggestion for an early meeting. In some Asian and South American countries it is the boss s privilege to arrive late at the office in the mornings, and the bigger the boss you are, the later you can arrive . Asking for such an early meeting here may be interpreted as showing a lack of respect for his status.

Breakfast meetings Letter 102

FROM THE U.S. ABOUT FRANCE

I ll be in France for a few days next month and have an extremely packed schedule. I was wondering if it would be possible to organize breakfast meetings to meet my new French subordinates so I can make the most of my time there. Do you think my suggestion is likely to shock them?

Reexamine your schedule and try to find another way to solve your problem. French people, like Russians, Latin Americans, and people from the Middle East and the countries around the Mediterranean, don t like to be rushed, especially by foreigners or people they don t know. However, they have a great respect for authority, so they would probably turn up, but it would be an unpopular move for many reasons. It would be seen as making demands on private family time, which the French are loath to sacrifice to business. It would also (perhaps equally importantly) be seen as a demand for them to sacrifice a mealtime too ”even if that meal consists only of croissants and caf au lait. In a country that takes food as seriously as the French this would be seen as a barbaric move, and it would confirm their worst prejudices about U.S. Americans obsession with the clock. It would be better to meet your new coworkers on your next visit than run the risk of getting off to a bad start.

LETTER 103

We all do other things during the working day apart from work.

Prayers at work Letter 103

FROM ARGENTINA ABOUT INDONESIA

I know that Indonesia is a Muslim country and have heard that Muslims are supposed to pray five times a day. How do they arrange this at work? Do they have time off from work for this?

You re right about the five times a day rule. Two occasions for prayer are at dawn and at night and are usually done at home. However, there are two or three times during the working day (there are local variations) when religious Muslims might pray: midday, mid-afternoon, and sunset. Midday prayers take about fifteen minutes and afternoon prayers about half that. Some workplaces in Indonesia have a separate room for prayers where employees can go. This is particularly important during Ramadan, the period of fasting , and on Fridays, the holy day of the week. On this day lunchtimes may be extended so that male employees can visit the mosque. It s important that any foreign firms with a presence in Indonesia observe these customs about providing places for people to pray. The rooms themselves don t have to be particularly well appointed or devoted solely to prayers, although it would obviously be insensitive to allow people to smoke there or for non-Muslims to eat their lunches in them. Not providing such a room could be seen as showing a lack of respect for your employees religion and could cause the firm serious problems.

All of the above applies to any country where the established religion is Islam or there is a large Muslim minority, such as India.

LETTER 104

How exact can you be about how you are going to divide your day?

No planning possible Letter 104

FROM SWITZERLAND ABOUT MEXICO

I find it difficult to plan my time here in Mexico, because even though I know (very roughly ) when a meeting will start, there is never an indication of when it will finish, so I can t make definite arrangements for the rest of the day. I find this very frustrating.

In many countries in South America, Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Russia it would be regarded as rather odd to set an exact time for a meeting to end. The reasoning would be, how could you possibly know in advance how long the meeting will take? It sounds as if you find this lack of precision rather inefficient, but I m sure your Mexican colleagues find your preoccupation with exact timing rather inefficient too. I mean, if you and the people you re meeting with are near to finding the solution to a problem at 10:55, surely it s not a good idea to rush away simply for the sake of being on time for an 11:00 o clock appointment, is it?

LETTERS 105 “106

At the end of the day we usually go home. But when does the day end?

Leaving so early? Letter 105

FROM THE U.S. ABOUT SWEDEN

We recently had some visitors here from Sweden, and as we were chatting I was amazed to hear a quite senior manager say that he regularly left work early (about 4:00 P.M.) to pick his children up from the local day care center. Is it usual for family commitments to take precedence over work there?

It is the law in Sweden that parents of young children should be allowed to work 80 percent if they wish to. As a result of this law, many parents decide to work a six-hour day so they can go home comparatively early. This measure, along with the generous system of state-subsidized parental leave and day care centers, is designed to help mothers and fathers of small children combine parenthood and a career as smoothly as possible. There is an awareness in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark of the need for a work-life balance, as well as a realization that the country needs as many as possible of its well-trained workforce to work outside the home, even when the children are small, if the economy is to continue to prosper .

Swedes work hard and they are extremely conscious about using time in the most efficient way while they re in the office. It s also quite common for them to take work home with them in the evenings and weekends, so I wouldn t say that they neglect their work for their families. Indeed, some people might say they needed to do that more often!

Working overtime Letter 106

FROM GERMANY ABOUT THE U.S.

We have a new American boss here who has made it clear that he expects us to work late when we have a lot to do. We can understand having to do this in a crisis, but this seems to be becoming a regular occurrence. We feel that it is his job to organize our workloads so that we can finish our work within normal working hours.

Both the U.S. and German cultures are known for valuing hard work very highly. Indeed, in cultures with a more relaxed attitude they joke that both nationalities live to work rather than work to live. However, it sounds as if you and your boss have different ideas about what hard work means. For your boss, long hours are an important sign that you take your work seriously, but your priority is to work as efficiently as possible during office hours.

In Germany, most people set great store by their private life and keep it separate from their life at work. In the U.S. this is also the case, but work seems to consume more and more leisure time too . Personally, I find it healthy that there are people and cultures that resist the growing trend to be available for work twenty-four hours a day. In other European countries, South America, and the Middle East, people may also object to working overtime, because in these cultures people like to enjoy the moment and set a high value on time spent with family and friends.

However, there is also the fact that in a global economy international companies must provide never-close services for customers worldwide, so the old 9:00 to 5:00 mentality seems increasingly old-fashioned. The best solution would be to talk to your boss and see if there was some way he and your colleagues could work out the most effective way to use your time during the working day so you could avoid overtime work.

IN A NUTSHELL: The Working Day

GLOBAL BUSINESS STANDARDS

In countries with hot afternoons and no air conditioning, an early afternoon nap or siesta is the norm. Offices and workshops often close for a couple of hours and reopen later.

If you want an easy life as a manager, don t ask your employees to work at times of the day when they are usually doing other things, for example, eating breakfast, having their tea break, picking up children from school, praying, and so on.

 

• Argentina: People work later in the evenings, sometimes until 9:00 or 10:00 P.M. and eat even later. Business lunches are common, often between 1:00 and 3:00 P.M. (See Letters 101, 102, 104, and 106.)

• Australia: Colleagues may go for a drink together at the end of the working day, about 5:00 P.M. Australia has three time zones that have to be taken into account when planning meetings.

• Austria: Employees go home promptly at the end of the day, and overtime is not the norm.

• Belgium: Managers may arrive at the office later than their subordinates.

• Brazil: Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are all popular occasions for business meetings. Managers may start later in mornings than subordinates. Business lunches can last two hours. People may work later in the evening, until 9:00 or 10:00 P.M. Modern companies are trying to abolish the siesta, but it s an uphill battle. (See Letters 101, 102, 104, and 106.)

Canada: The business breakfast is less popular than the business lunch. It has six time zones, some of which correspond to those of the U.S., and this has to be taken into account when planning meetings.

• China: Despite its size , China has only one time zone. Businesses usually open at 8:00 A.M. Everyone stops for lunch and a nap between noon and 2:00 P.M. Business socializing (dinners, banquets) in the evening is important. (See Letter 101.)

• Denmark: There is an early start to the day, so an early lunch is quite common and people go home early too. It is difficult to arrange business meetings in July. (See Letter 105.)

• Finland: Most businesses open at 8:00 A.M. People go home early in the afternoon in summer (about 4:00 P.M.). It is difficult to arrange business meetings in July. (See Letter 101.)

• France: In accordance with a law passed in 2000, people work a 35-hour week. Breakfast meetings are not popular. Lunchtime starts at 12:30 or 1:00 P.M. Business lunches are very popular and can take two or more hours. The best times for meetings are about 11:00 A.M. or 3:30 P.M. Managers may work late in the evening, until 9:00 P.M. (See Letter 102.)

• Germany: Breakfast meetings are rare. Employees come to work early and most go home promptly at the end of the day. Overtime is not the norm. Some offices close early on Friday afternoons. People usually have at least four weeks of vacation in the summer. (See Letter 106.)

• Hong Kong: Many firms follow a six-day workweek, including Saturday. Afternoon naps, common in China, are less common here. (See Letter 101.)

• India: There is only one time zone, despite its size. Indian standard time is five hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Indian executives usually prefer late morning or early afternoon appointments and don t work very late in the evenings. Usually there s only a one-hour lunch. Muslims pray five times a day. (See Letter 103.)

• Indonesia: There are three time zones, which must be taken into account when planning meetings. Muslims pray five times a day. (See Letter 103.)

• Italy: Lunch is the day s main meal, and usually starts about 1.P.M. Most people go home between 6:00 and 7:00 P.M. Modern companies are trying to abolish the siesta, but it s an uphill battle, especially in the south. (See Letters 101, 102, 104, and 106.)

• Japan: The working day often extends to evening socializing, so early meetings are not very popular. Employees don t take all their vacation entitlement, so it s seldom that they are not at work. (See Letters 101 and 104.)

• Mexico: Modern companies are trying to abolish the siesta, but it s an uphill battle. (See Letters 101 and 104.)

• Netherlands: Lunch is usually the only meal where business is conducted , and it usually lasts just one hour.

• Norway: There is an early start to the day, and people finish early in the afternoon in the summer (about 4:00 P.M.). (See Letters 101 and 105.)

• Poland: Breakfast meetings are not common, even though firms open quite early. Firms may also be open on Saturday mornings.

• Russia: It has eleven time zones that need to be taken into account when planning meetings. Meetings usually don t start until 10:00 A.M. (and not until noon on Mondays). Lunch is usually one hour, from 1:00 to 2:00 or 2:00 to 3:00 P.M. Russians may stay at work after hours to socialize. Most business- related social meetings are held in the evenings. (See Letters 101, 102, and 104.)

• Saudi Arabia: Friday is holy day and no business is done. The working week is from Saturday to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday being free. Most people do not work on Thursday either. Because of summer heat, businesses often close between noon and 4:00 P.M. and open after dark. Muslims pray five times a day. (See Letters 102, 103, 104, and 106.)

• South Africa: Offices open between 8:00 and 8.30 A.M. and close about 5:00 P.M., with thirty to sixty minutes for lunch.

• South Korea: Socializing takes place mainly in the evenings, so early morning starts are not appreciated. (See Letter 101.)

• Spain: Long lunch breaks are the norm. Business socializing may require late evenings, so early morning starts are not appreciated by managers. Modern companies are trying to abolish the siesta, but it s an uphill battle. (See Letters 102, 104, and 106.)

• Sweden: Workdays start early, and working breakfasts are not unusual. Early lunches are common (from 11:15 A.M.). People finish early in the afternoon in summer (about 4:00 P.M.). People will usually have at least four weeks of vacation in the summer. (See Letters 101 and 105.)

• Switzerland: People start work early (around 8:00 A.M.) and a oneor two-hour lunch around midday is the norm. (See Letter 104.)

• Taiwan: Many people take a nap at lunchtime. Business socializing is popular in the evenings (dinners and banquets). (See Letter 101.)

• Thailand: Traffic in Bangkok is extremely heavy and can cause delays to the start of morning meetings. Business dinners are extremely common, and socializing after working hours is important. (See Letter 101.)

• Turkey: Muslims pray five times a day. (See Letters 102, 103, and 104.)

• UK: Employees work the longest hours in Europe. The workday may well involve a pub lunch, and colleagues may go for a drink right after work.

• US: Employees may work through lunch and have a sandwich at their desks so as not to waste time. Breakfast meetings from 7:00 A.M. onward are quite normal for the same reason. The six time zones have to be taken into account when planning meetings. (See Letters 102, 105, and 106.)

• Venezuela: Three-hour business lunches are not unusual, and people work well into the evening. (See Letters 101, 102, 104, and 106.)