With our current generation facing a state of increased globalization, due to both international business and technology, the workforce has become dependent on adapting to cultural differences in work-related aspects of society. Three major components include: differences in work conditions around the world, unique customs and mannerism conducted in the work place, and language barriers. In order to stay competitive, it is important that the workforce be wary and knowledgeable of major differences across borders. Work conditions vary as laws and regulations and current political order play a part in restrictions and exploitations.
Taking into account mannerisms and culture will allow for businesses to be run far more productive, as each society is unique and finds certain gestures offensive. Lastly, language barriers create a competitive upper hand for bilingual individuals in the workforce. With insight from the world’s top business sources, international labor organizations, and authors of published works relating to globalization, the point is made that the workforce must accommodate to the changing global economy.
As our world becomes increasingly interconnected by means of globalizations, adaptations and cultural considerations must be accommodated. Participating in globalization has proven to provide a higher standard of living, as global competition allows for consumers to have access to cheaper products and due to outsourcing, manufacturers create greater job opportunity. Participants benefit both economically and politically, and in addition the spread of culture, new ideas are enhanced by people traveling and becoming more aware of issues around the world. Companies must adjust to the different styles of business that different cultures bring to the table.
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Business is conducted differently around the world in terms of working conditions, cultural and societal mannerisms, and language barrier. It is important to distinguish in terms of working conditions job hours, remuneration, work expectation, benefits and time off. Commonly overlooked, mannerisms are equally important to consider, as each country due to culture and religion will find certain gestures offensive. Being familiar with a county’s customs and tradition is essential for globalization to reach full potential. As language barriers act as a road block in the work place, individuals who speak multiple languages become more desirable and stand out, especially in a diverse workplace. With our global economy continuing to diversify through increased international trade and outsourcing, it is required of the workforce to be better equipped for cultural differences.
When comparing the standard of work conditions between the United States with other nations, not every country is as fortunate to have basic work rights, regulation through laws, and protection from threats and violence. Countries in the Middle East such as, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Qatar continue to exploit migrant workers through the kafala system. The system places migrants under the watch of in-country sponsors, who are responsible for their visa. In a sense, these sponsors act as employers who exploit migrants through forced labor. Human right groups will agree that, “the migration management system enables exploitation and forced labor- labor extracted by under the threat of penalty, and not offered voluntarily by the worker” (Understanding, 2015).
The system continues to exist in North Africa as well, in countries such as Morocco, Libya, and Egypt. In addition, labor conditions in Africa continue to deteriorate as discrimination, insufficient labor inspections, civil violence, and concern of health conditions are apparent. The International Labour Organization reported about the labor standards in Africa, “persistence and long-standing forms of discrimination and the emergence of new forms; the strength of stereotypes; the lack of a common understanding of key concepts; the frequent absence of coherent national equality policies; and the difficulty of measuring discrimination” (Labour, 2018). The International Trade Union Confederation claims that both the Middle East and North Africa are the worst regions for treatment of workers, considering the kafala system being in affect.
Exploitation of workers exists around the world, where violence and repression occur in South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador; As well as, low wages and unsafe working conditions in Asian countries such as China, Cambodia, and South Korea (ITUC, 2017). Henry O’Lawrence, author of Managing Workforce Development in the 21st Century, stresses the importance of human capital, being one of the three strategic economic advantages. O’Lawrence states, “Those who have a workforce that can use the technology to the fullest will have the advantage over those who cannot, and those with the highest skilled labor force will be able to adopt technology faster and use it to produce the best quality at the lowest price” (O’Lawrence, 2016).
Countries that excel with a competitive workforce include Switzerland, Denmark, and Belgium, who have invested in human capital through expenditures on education and development. The Society for Human Resource Management states, “all these countries share very similar attractive indicators: They invest a lot in education, they provide foreign and domestic talent with a very high-quality life, and they provide development opportunities for individuals” (Gurchiek, 2016). Providing employees with the world’s best work conditions in terms of wage, hours, and benefits allow for employers that are located in the world’s top-rated workforce countries, to attract, develop, and retain employees.
Taking into account that every country has unique customs, traditions, and mannerisms is important to consider when analyzing cultural differences in the work place. Religion is an important feature, that for certain countries dictates time off of work and holidays celebrated. Due to globalization, “business processes are continually adjusted to accommodate the growing number of different cultures and nationalities that organizations work with. Companies who are evolving with the shift have a competitive advantage over those who don’t. Cultural competency training is now necessary so employees have the tools to work efficiently and effectively with different cultures” (Smith, 2017).
Examples of mannerisms include: In France if you do not speak French it is expected to apologize for the lack of fluency, in Germany direct communication is preferred over being blunt about business, in Italy business is conducted on a personal level through building relationships and in both Russia and Australia being punctual is very important. In addition, in China having a gift prepared is expected for a business meeting, in Japan business cards are essential and should include print in English and Japanese, in India when attending a business dinner, it is important to order Indian cuisine, and in Spain deadlines are treated more like guidelines (Uzialko, 2018).
Business conducted internationally isn’t a new concept and has taken place far beyond the current generation; Yet through globalization, international business has reached its highest point, which is why taking into account cultural differences is essential. Harry I. Chernotsky and Heidi H Hobbs, authors of Crossing Boarders International Studies for the 21st Century, define globalization as, “the political economic, social, and cultural flows across the international system; the term includes a broad range of interactions, from trade and financial relationships to the integrated communication networks that have developed to facilitate those connections” (Chernotsky, 2017).
Two key words to take out of Chernotsky and Hobb’s definition is “interaction” and “relationships.” Both concepts requiring a level of respect and intelligence for business to be conducted in a most professional manner. Forbes, one of the most well-known business magazines, providing published articles on finance, investing, marketing, and international business for over a century, agrees that lack of cultural context is the down fall of market globalization. An article titled, Cultural Competency is Key to International Brand Success, states, “the simplest of gestures, such as knowing how to greet a person from another culture, will go a long way toward creating the essential environment of trustworthiness.
Additionally, it’s important to understand written etiquette in formal communications and email protocol, when and where to sit in a business meeting, how to socialize at business lunches and all other related aspects of social engagement” (Bath, 2018). Establishing creditability is fundamental in building any relationship or partnership, and the same idea goes along way when taking in to consideration cultural differences in work-related aspects of society.
A final, major cultural issue to consider in the workplace is language barrier, which could pose as an added difficulty when attempting to perform a basic function. The concept of a language barrier is an issue that is relevant to my own experience in pursuing the fire department. Every ride along, whether with the Los Angeles Fire Department, or McCormick Ambulance I’ve been a part of, has been with a team. In every team, at least one individual can speak Spanish, which has proven to be necessary every time. Although being bilingual is necessary when joining the workforce in a foreign country or conducting international business, the increasing diversity in the United States, has made the ability to speak different languages necessary for public service jobs such as the Fire Department.
Being able to have bilingual capabilities gives an individual the competitive upper hand when seeking employment, and that is a lesson I’ve learned when submitting my application to the Los Angeles Fire Department and seeking my current job at 24 Hour Fitness. As society continues to diversify, language capabilities are increasingly significant in terms of employment. Globalization has allowed for countless job opportunities as corporations have expanded across borders and people have migrated into different countries. Along with technology, the world is more interconnected, and people are more aware of world news.
The global environment continues to change and in order to both work and live cohesively in a new environment, taking on a new language and culture is a part of the game. After surveying company executives, Forbes Insight came to the conclusion, “the impact of these barriers may be significant. Asked about consequences, nearly two-thirds of respondents said that miscommunications were leading to inefficiency. More than 40% noted that miscommunication made collaboration difficult, and a similar percentage noted that productivity was lower than it should be due to language barriers” (Reducing, 2011). Lack of communication directly affects productivity and efficiency, hindering businesses to reach full potential.
Previously mentioned, countries with the highest rated workforce, including European countries: Denmark, Switzerland, and Belgium, have made education and development a high priority, investing in human capital. A matter of fact, most European counties mandate studying a second foreign language, early on in their school systems, creating greater opportunity when entering the workforce. Pew Research Center stated, “studying a second foreign language for at least one year is compulsory in more than 20 European countries. In most European countries, students begin studying their first foreign language as a compulsory school subject between the ages of 6 and 9 according to the 2012 report from Eurostat.
Meanwhile, the U.S. does not have a nationwide foreign-language mandate at any level of education” (Devlin, 2015). Although many states give school districts the power to set the requirements on language proficiency, the United States has low rates of high school students who come out bilingual. So, while European students are required to study languages in the classroom before reaching their teen years, the majority of United States students aren’t exactly in the same position. I found this quite apparent, when meeting a variety of international students in the spring from countries such as Finland, Germany and France and realizing what a coincidence it is, that each are proficient in writing, reading, and speaking English. Realizing that there is a big contrast between the United States and European education system.
In conclusion, factors that support the cultural differences in work-related aspects of society include, differences in work conditions, culture and mannerisms, and language. Work conditions vary across the world, and in comparison, to the United States, not all workers are protected by legal rights. Many workers across the world are exploited and face harsh realities such as violence and slave-like work conditions. Countries that have excelled in having a strong work force are countries that have invested education and developing individuals to be prepared for the workforce. In terms of differences in culture and mannerisms, every country has unique customs, important to be aware of when conducting business.
Understanding proper business edicts in specific regions creates credibility for a business or individual to succeed. Additionally, as globalization becomes increasingly more apparent, workers and business professionals must adapt in order for the process to work. Globalization grants greater opportunity for both businesses and consumers, as a larger market develops, new products are introduced, and new ideas are spread and adopted. Lastly, language barriers create a competitive demand for a bilingual workforce. As society becomes increasingly diverse, and through globalization and technology, cultural boarders diminish, being able to speak multiple languages gives individuals the upper hand in the work force.
Companies who conduct international business will agree, that lack of communication proficiency allows for a lack of efficiency. A major difference is noted between the United States educational system and the European educational system, as the European educational system places a higher propriety on foreign language proficiency. As the global economy continues to expand and conduct business internationally, the workforce must take in consideration the adjustments needed in order to stay competitive, when realizing cultural difference in societies around the world.
References
- Bath, V. (2018, July). Cultural competency is key to international brand success. Retrieved from Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeslacouncil/2018/07/16/cultural-comptency-is-key-to-international-brand-success/#44bc6a0353c0
- Chernotsky, H. I., & Hobbs, H. H. (2017). Crossing borders: International studies for the 21st century. Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press.
- Devlin, K. (2015, July). Learning a foreign language a ‘must’ in Europe, not so in America. Retrieved from Pew Research Center. www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/13learning-a-forign-language-a-must-in-eurpoe-not-so-in-america/
- Gurchiek, K. (2016, December). Switzerland tops list of countries best at getting, keeping workplace talent. Retrieved from Society for Human Resource Management. http://www.shrm.org/resourceandtools/hr-topics/global-hr/pages/switzerland-tops-list-of-countries-best-at-getting,-keeping-the-employees-buisness-need.aspx
- ITUC global rights index 2017: Violence and repression of workers on the rise. (2017). Retrieved from International Trade Union Conference. http://www.ituc-csi.org/ituc-global-rights-index-2017-18767
- Labour Standards in Africa. (2018) Retrieved from International Labour Organization. http://www.ilo.org/addisababa/areas-of-work/labour-standards/lang–en/index.htm
- O’Lawrence, H. (2016). Managing workforce development in the 21st century: Global reflections and forward thinking in the new millennium. Santa Rosa, CA: Informing Science Press.
- Reducing the impact of language barriers. (2011) Retrieved from Forbes Insights. http://images.forbes.com/forbesinsights/StudyPDFs/Rosetta_Stone_Report.pdf
- Smith, H. (2017, July). How globalization affects the workplace. Retrieved from Global LT. http://global-It.com/globalization-workplace/
- Understand kafala: An archaic law at cross purposes with modern development. (2015, May). Retrieved from Migrant-Rights.org. http://www-migrant-rights.org/2015/03/understanding-kafala-an-archaic-law-at-cross-purposes-with-modern-development/
- Uzialko, A. C. (2018) 15 international business customs that could make or break a deal. Retrieved from Business New Daily. https://www/buisnessnewsdaily.com/5176-unusual-international-business-customs.html
