daedong
New member
OK I admit it, there is a cultural divide. Interesting, the last comment Mary and I noticed this on many occasions.
I would never address the boss other than his first name, if he or she can't handle that, well they won't be my boss.
Aussie business people too rude: survey
14-January-09 by Edited announcement
Australian business people traveling abroad are more likely to offend while doing business in America and the UK than any other country, according to an international workplace survey released today.
The Servcorp International Business Etiquette Index has uncovered that those in the United States and UK have the strictest workplace etiquette and are more easily offended by common business practices than Japan, China and the Middle East.
"Offensive" behavior includes the use of the occasional swear word, not receiving a morning greeting and use of stationery items without permission.
The study was commissioned to uncover the countries with the strictest business etiquettes and to reveal mistakes that Australian businessmen and professionals commonly make when doing business abroad.
The US and the UK were found to be among the most sensitive nations in the world, despite over three in five respondents believing that Japan has the strictest business etiquette.
English and American businessmen were more offended by people using speakerphones, bad language, not being offered a drink, personal guests of colleagues in the workplace and not receiving a morning greeting than their Japanese or Chinese counterparts.
According to the Servcorp Index, the top five most hated business behaviours globally are:
- People arriving at work and not acknowledging fellow workmates
- Not offering office guests a beverage
- Speaking loudly across the room
- Using swear words
- Taking calls on speakerphone
Almost 25 percent of Australians believe it is perfectly acceptable to use swear words on the international business stage, while almost 90 per cent of Japanese, 80 per cent of Middle East citizens, almost all English and the Americans respondents find this behaviour deeply offensive.
Similarly, over 97 per cent of all Australians wouldn't think twice about addressing their boss by their first name, a habit that almost one in five Chinese business people found rude. Other likely mistakes to be made by Australian business people when dealing with international colleagues and partners include:
- Speaking too loudly across the room
- Taking personal calls at work
- Asking about the personal life of colleagues and business partners
Taine Moufarrige, Executive Director of Servcorp, the premium provider of serviced offices in 61 locations around the world said: "Being aware of potentially offensive behavior is a key factor to Australian business success abroad. Australians are very natural in their business style, perhaps more so than any other country in the world."
"Servcorp helps Australian businesses expand abroad by alleviating the problem of office space and allowing them to easily establish a presence internationally. With offices in 25 cities and 13 countries, and dealing with more than 10,000 business people every year using our facilities, we have experienced cultural misunderstandings first hand, and commissioned the survey to shed more light on common mistakes made by Australians doing business or working overseas."
The results of this international survey largely affirmed Australia's global reputation as a laid back nation whose business people are not easily offended, however two behaviors were found to annoy Australian business people more than their international colleagues - not buying or making a drink for colleagues and forgetting to offer guests a beverage upon arrival. Surprising?
http://www.wabusinessnews.com.au/en-story/1/69625/Aussie-business-people-too-rude-survey
I would never address the boss other than his first name, if he or she can't handle that, well they won't be my boss.
Aussie business people too rude: survey
14-January-09 by Edited announcement
Australian business people traveling abroad are more likely to offend while doing business in America and the UK than any other country, according to an international workplace survey released today.
The Servcorp International Business Etiquette Index has uncovered that those in the United States and UK have the strictest workplace etiquette and are more easily offended by common business practices than Japan, China and the Middle East.
"Offensive" behavior includes the use of the occasional swear word, not receiving a morning greeting and use of stationery items without permission.
The study was commissioned to uncover the countries with the strictest business etiquettes and to reveal mistakes that Australian businessmen and professionals commonly make when doing business abroad.
The US and the UK were found to be among the most sensitive nations in the world, despite over three in five respondents believing that Japan has the strictest business etiquette.
English and American businessmen were more offended by people using speakerphones, bad language, not being offered a drink, personal guests of colleagues in the workplace and not receiving a morning greeting than their Japanese or Chinese counterparts.
According to the Servcorp Index, the top five most hated business behaviours globally are:
- People arriving at work and not acknowledging fellow workmates
- Not offering office guests a beverage
- Speaking loudly across the room
- Using swear words
- Taking calls on speakerphone
Almost 25 percent of Australians believe it is perfectly acceptable to use swear words on the international business stage, while almost 90 per cent of Japanese, 80 per cent of Middle East citizens, almost all English and the Americans respondents find this behaviour deeply offensive.
Similarly, over 97 per cent of all Australians wouldn't think twice about addressing their boss by their first name, a habit that almost one in five Chinese business people found rude. Other likely mistakes to be made by Australian business people when dealing with international colleagues and partners include:
- Speaking too loudly across the room
- Taking personal calls at work
- Asking about the personal life of colleagues and business partners
Taine Moufarrige, Executive Director of Servcorp, the premium provider of serviced offices in 61 locations around the world said: "Being aware of potentially offensive behavior is a key factor to Australian business success abroad. Australians are very natural in their business style, perhaps more so than any other country in the world."
"Servcorp helps Australian businesses expand abroad by alleviating the problem of office space and allowing them to easily establish a presence internationally. With offices in 25 cities and 13 countries, and dealing with more than 10,000 business people every year using our facilities, we have experienced cultural misunderstandings first hand, and commissioned the survey to shed more light on common mistakes made by Australians doing business or working overseas."
The results of this international survey largely affirmed Australia's global reputation as a laid back nation whose business people are not easily offended, however two behaviors were found to annoy Australian business people more than their international colleagues - not buying or making a drink for colleagues and forgetting to offer guests a beverage upon arrival. Surprising?
http://www.wabusinessnews.com.au/en-story/1/69625/Aussie-business-people-too-rude-survey
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