When many Americans think of Germany, images of WWII
soldiers and Hitler often come to mind. But what many people don’t
realize is that Germany is the industrial powerhouse of Europe, and is a
leading manufacturer of goods for export to developing Asian nations.
We don’t hear about the superiority of German engineering in Volkswagen
commercials for nothing!
The economic engine of the EU, Germany single-handedly
saved the Eurozone from collapse in 2012. At the same time, German
workers enjoy unparalleled worker protections and shorter working hours
than most of their global counterparts. How can a country that works an
average of 35 hours per week (with an average 24 paid vacation days to
boot) maintain such a high level of productivity?
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Working Hours Mean Working Hours
In German business culture, when an employee is at
work, they should not be doing anything other than their work. Facebook,
office gossip with co-workers, trolling Reddit for hours, and pulling
up a fake spreadsheet when your boss walks by are socially unacceptable
behaviors. Obviously, in the United States these behaviors are frowned
up on by management. But in Germany, there is zero tolerance among peers
for such frivolous activities.
In the BBC documentary “Make Me A German“, a young
German woman explained her culture shock while on a working exchange to
the UK.
“I was in England for an exchange… I was in the office and the people are talking all the time about their private things… ‘What’s the plan for tonight?’, and all the time drinking coffee…”
She was quite surprised by the casual nature of
British workers. Upon further discussion, the Germans reveal that
Facebook is not allowed in the office whatsoever, and no private email
is permitted.
Goal-Oriented, Direct Communication Is Valued
German business culture is one of intense focus and
direct communication. While Americans tend to value small talk and
maintaining an upbeat atmosphere, Germans rarely beat around the bush.
German workers will directly speak to a manager about performance
reviews, launch into a business meeting without any ‘icebreakers’, and
use commanding language without softening the directives with polite
phrases.Whereas an American would say, “It would be great if you could
get this to me by 3pm,” a German would say, “I need this by 3pm”.
When a German is at work, they are focused and diligent, which in turn leads to higher productivity in a shorter period of time.
Germans Have a Life Outside Work
Germans work hard and play hard. Since the working day
is focused on delivering efficient productivity, the off hours are
truly off hours. Because of the focused atmosphere and formal
environment of German businesses, employees don’t necessarily hang out
together after work. Germans generally value a separation between
private life and working life.
The German government is currently considering a ban
on work-related emails after 6pm, to counter the accessibility that
smartphones and constant connectivity give employers to their employees.
Can you imagine President Obama enacting such a policy in the United
States?
To occupy their plentiful Freizeit, most Germans are involved in Verein (clubs); regularly meeting others with shared interests in their community. Common interests in Germany include Sportvereine (sports clubs), Gesangvereine (choirs or singing clubs), Musikvereine (music clubs), Wandervereine (hiking clubs), Tierzuchtvereine
(animal breeding clubs – generally rabbits/pigeons) and collectors’
clubs of all stripes. Even the smallest village in Germany will have
several active Vereinen to accommodate residents’ interests.
Rather than settling in for a night of TV after work, most Germans
socialize with others in their community and cultivate themselves as
people.
Germans also enjoy a high number of paid vacation
days, with many salaried employees receiving 25-30 paid days (the law
requires 20). Extended holidays mean families can enjoy up to a month
together, renting an apartment by the seaside or taking a long trip to a
new, exciting city.
Business Respects Parenthood
Germany’s system of Elternzeit (“parent time”
or parental leave) is the stuff of fantasy for most working Americans.
The United States does not currently have laws requiring maternity
leave, while Germany has some of the most extensive parental protection
policies in the developed world. The downside of these maternity leave
benefits is that employers may avoid hiring women (with the fear that
they will take advantage of the extensive benefits), and German
boardrooms are consistently male-dominated at a higher rate than other
developed nations, although the government is working to eradicate this
trend. The financial benefits of staying home (from both Elternzeit and Elterngeld or parents’ money programs) are often too good to pass up for German mothers, and can lead to stagnant or non-existent careers.
Since “at will” employment does not exist in Germany,
all employees have contracts with their employer. Parents who have been
gainfully employed for the previous 12 months are eligible for Elternzeit benefits,
which include up to three years of unpaid leave with a “sleeping”
contract. The employee is eligible to work part-time up to 30 hours
while on leave, and must be offered full-time employment at the
conclusion of the parental leave. Parents may also choose to postpone up
to one year of their leave until the child’s 8th birthday. Either
parent is eligible for parental leave, and many couples make the choice
based on financial considerations.
In addition to the preservation of the employee’s
contract, the state will pay up 67% of the employee’s salary (with a cap
of 1800 Euros per month) for 14 months. Parents may split the 14 months
however they choose. These benefits apply equally to same-sex couples.
Have you picked your jaw up off the floor yet?
Put Some German In Your Office
The German work culture is very different from the
average American office, but there are certainly lessons to be learned
from our German counterparts. The diligent focus Germans bring to their
working life is to be admired. Separating work from play can help us
lead a more balanced life; putting the phone down after hours gives us a
mental break from stressing about work, and we can return to the office
refreshed in the morning. When it’s time to get something done, closing
Facebook and turning off push notifications helps keep our minds quiet
and the flow steady. Direct conversation can lead to increased
efficiency, and more clarity of communication among team members.
Americans often equate longer hours with increased
production and superior work ethic, but examining the German model makes
one wonder: When it comes to time at work
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