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British workers get up to 25 days' vacation on their first day and they seem to spend more time at the pub. And yet, according to many surveys, their businesses are no less profitable than American ones.
Americans are the only race on the planet that use the word "beverage" in a sentence and mean it.
Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
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Can't speak to Brit-American differences, but I have heard several Canadians mention that U.S. businesses often seem more "aggressive".... sometimes said admiringly, sometimes not so much.
Can't speak to Brit-American differences, but I have heard several Canadians mention that U.S. businesses often seem more "aggressive".... sometimes said admiringly, sometimes not so much.
It's true. The pace is faster too, so Americans are in more of a hurry to get it done.
British offices: more formally dressed, but more laid back. Less competitiveness, no cubicles (the open office layout actually works). People tend to socialise more outside of work.
Ameican offices: more laid back on dress, but way more pressure, competitive and cutthroat.
I prefer to work in Britain. More holiday, more rights as an employee.
The following is based on conversations between British business contacts and myself ...
The British who do business with companies all over the world, say that Americans are their most demanding clients and want everything done yesterday. They feel that Americans think they are the center of the universe. Americans can be their greatest source of revenue and their biggest headache.
Americans have to answer to their own U.S.-based customers who expect and are used to rapid response. Without efficient customer service, American business owners know they will lose their customers. Therefore, Americans are forced to impart a sense of urgency when dealing with British companies, and get frustrated when they run into a less urgent business culture.
Business agreements ... In general, Americans believe you hammer out every possible detail ahead of time and then stick to the agreement. The British believe an agreement is just a starting point, and feel more free to change the details on an ongoing basis.
The differences in vacation time - oh yeah.
The British will find that their U.S. business contacts are always "ON" and seldom away from the office. When they do go on vacation, there will probably be a coworker designated to handle everything until they return, so business proceeds as usual.
Americans will be baffled at how often their U.K. business contacts are simply unavailable to do business or not answering e-mails because they are "on holiday". AGAIN. Undeterred, they will hunt down a substitute in the U.K. office to get stuff done. You can run, but you can't hide from our relentlessness.
Worked in Europe and US.
In Europe you get more vacations but it's more formal, you have to be dressed formally and make your 8 hours a day at the office from 8.30 to 17.30 even if you don't have anything to do ...
In the US, it's more laid back and less formal, as soon as the job is done and you are reachable, you can arrive at 10am, leave early and work from home when you want to.
You get less vacations but I can still travel and work remotely which is not well considered in Europe.
Let's say the US fits better my personnality but if you are a 8 to 5 guy and don't want to be talked about job during your vacations Europe could be better.
The following is based on conversations between British business contacts and myself ...
The British who do business with companies all over the world, say that Americans are their most demanding clients and want everything done yesterday. They feel that Americans think they are the center of the universe. Americans can be their greatest source of revenue and their biggest headache.
Americans have to answer to their own U.S.-based customers who expect and are used to rapid response. Without efficient customer service, American business owners know they will lose their customers. Therefore, Americans are forced to impart a sense of urgency when dealing with British companies, and get frustrated when they run into a less urgent business culture.
Business agreements ... In general, Americans believe you hammer out every possible detail ahead of time and then stick to the agreement. The British believe an agreement is just a starting point, and feel more free to change the details on an ongoing basis.
The differences in vacation time - oh yeah.
The British will find that their U.S. business contacts are always "ON" and seldom away from the office. When they do go on vacation, there will probably be a coworker designated to handle everything until they return, so business proceeds as usual.
Americans will be baffled at how often their U.K. business contacts are simply unavailable to do business or not answering e-mails because they are "on holiday". AGAIN. Undeterred, they will hunt down a substitute in the U.K. office to get stuff done. You can run, but you can't hide from our relentlessness.
Americans also become unavailable, but not seldom permanently as there are so many promotions that contact people change quite frequently. And then you have to wait again till they are familiar with things to a sufficient degree.
Basically I think this thread is about European vs. American in general as from my experience British and continental European businesses are pretty similar.
I will never work for a US company again, especially not a big one. I just hated my experience. People were so ambitious and cold somehow...
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