Cultural differences in the workplace, a Jobseeker’s Diary

The workplace culture sets the tone of the environment you will be working in, and it can be either easy or difficult. Coming from the UK, it was no surprise to discover the Dutch working culture functions on egalitarianism. However, in the Dutch workplace the communication style is rather informal. Whilst the job is to be taken seriously, it is the friendly atmosphere and the usually calm environment that enable high productivity. My manager’s enthusiasm was often so high that I became eager to match it. Her natural, friendly nature combined with strong leadership made her a great manager.

We thrived because of our teamwork, meeting the sales targets day in and day out. Most, if not all, of my previous jobs also had friendly work environments, which provide employees with an open space. There was freedom to express themselves, and kindness between colleagues that made it easier to get along and complete tasks. Yet none of those environments compare to my last experience. No matter how friendly, how fun or how dynamic the workplace was, there was always the issue of dealing with the boss. Many of the manager-employee relationships were lacking. It was always a ‘them’ and ‘us’ scenario. We were there to get the job done, not to socialise with the boss or develop a friendship. In some workplaces this strategy is fine, but in others it meant flat communication.

Having a strong manager-employee relationship makes the work life easier to function in. I can approach my current manager with any problem I have, and she is always on hand to help me find a solution. In other circumstances, I often do my best to avoid her at all costs, because I do not want to disappoint her. As an employee, I always want to do my best, to rise to the occasion, so making a mistake was something I avoided. But I rarely felt that kind of pressure.

Dutch work environments are full of noticeable differences. One is the regard to punctuality. Any work environment takes time seriously, although the way it is regarded is dependent on the culture itself. Both Dutch work life and social life tend to be structured. Outside of work, relationships are important and can lead to strong bonds. When 'appointments' are made to meet up, they become fixed in the agenda and they need to be respected. Nobody likes to be late and nobody likes an employee that is late. Despite this, my experience in the UK with receiving people late or being late myself was never that harsh. Given the various difficulties one can run into, it seemed fair that lateness was considered blasé so long as it was not a characteristic of that person. What I have come to realise here is that this is not so much the case. Time is of the essence quite frankly. So, although lateness can be excused, it is unlikely to be put up with for long.

Another difference is the accepted dress code. Depending on the type of work you do, the dress code is not so formal. The traditional suit and tie for office is only required to be worn by those at senior levels. A more relaxed look such as jeans, t-shirts or even trainers is acceptable, especially during the summer.

All in all, the Dutch business culture is informal but respectful. This type of work culture may take some getting used to. Not many other businesses work in the same way. This is something that makes working in the Netherlands unique. It certainly took me some getting used to, but I adapted in no time. If you are having your doubts then doubt no more. It is best to embrace the change, you may be pleasantly surprised by the affect it has on you.

Lucine Bassa