Germany

1. Germany Group 9: YeseniaSaldivar, Michael Grizzle, Spencer Cox, Tine Roren, Hannah Ives, Taryn Crews, BrynnCauffman

2. Employee/Employer Relations Employers tend to care somewhat about employees Employees don’t aspire to be in management positions

3. Importance of personal relationships at work Germans never talk about their personal lives in a business setting Very private people in the work atmosphere Germans like to keep their personal lives and work lives separate

4. Typical Management Style German managers are suppose to be efficient and very productive in their areas Focus on two things: product quality and product service Managers will entrust responsibility to a member of a team who is capable of completing the task at hand

5. Typical Leadership Style • Germans are known around the world by their leadership style • Commonly called the “Eiffel Tower management Style” • This style is very hierarchal and also task-focused

6. Decision Making Practices Germans will tend to let the higher ranking officials in their company to make the decisions

7. Primary means of motivating Employees Germans are motivated by their culture Germans are raised to be extremely productive in their careers Succeeding at their job is the means of motivation to them

8. Common Types of Organization Structure In Germany, most companies have an aggressive hierarchal organizational structure with clearly defined roles Germans will tend to stay in line and obey every task that is assigned to them by supervisors

9. Role and View of Women in Business In Germany, women are not usually in a high-powered position in the business world In order to do business, women must conduct their authority and establish their positions

10. Hiring practices and preferences Germany is like the United States in the way that they hire people into a company In most German companies, the company will off a future employee by a written contract

11. Compensation Structure • There are four parts of the German world Business sector • Lettered A, B, C, and R • Each group has their own pay scale and compensation package

12. Minimum Wage • Minimum wage • No set federal minimum wage in Germany • Only for construction workers, janitors, roofers, painters, and electricians • Collective Bargaining Agreement • About 70% of all German employees are under a set collective bargaining agreement

13. Key Employment Laws • Federal Data Protection Act • Individuals have a right to privacy with their personal information when being interviewed, hired, or fired from a company • General Equal Treatment Act • Every employer/company has to have a certain quota on the type of people within their company • Disabled, Gay/Lesbian, Foreign-born, etc..

14. Advancement Practices • Advancement in Germany is always given upon a person’s seniority in their respective company • Unless an individual with extremely better qualifications is better suited for the position

15. Employee Benefits • Pay 4 different costs from their income • Health insurance • The employee, their spouse, and their children • Unemployment • 3 to 6 months • Long-term nursing care • Pensions • Receive pension at the age of 65 • Accident insurance • Ranges from anyone in the immediate family & covers accidents at the office, road, or school (children) • Companies pay 20% of every employees benfits

16. Appropriate Business Dress • Men • Dark-colored suits • Try to wear solid colored ties with a white shirt • Women • Dark-colored suits • Can wear jewelry, but not too flashy

17. Business Cards, Work Schedule, & Measurement System • Business Cards • Are acceptable in English, but needs a German translation on it as well • Work Schedule • Typically work 35-38 hours a week • Starts from 8 AM – 9 AM and ends at 4 PM – 5 PM • Monday – Friday (sometimes weekends if necessary) • Measurement System • Metric system

18. Business Meeting Behavior • Always arrive early or a few minutes before the meeting • Shake their hand firmly • Always shake the person with the most seniority 1st • For women: wait until the extend their arm 1st, and then shake firmly (not too hard though) • Maintain good eye contact at all times • Is acceptable to talk about sports, but only for a bit • Don’t talk about your personal life OR theirs • Germans tend to disagree many times throughout a meeting, but always stand your ground • Shake hands again at the end of the meeting

19. After-Meeting Etiquette • Call them for a thank you for receiving you, and for their time spent • Germans are very detailed-oriented

20. Do’s and Don’ts • Do’s • Always be punctual • Wear appropriate business attire • Always knock on the door upon entering • Germans are very private people • Gifts are acceptable (yellow flowers, American whiskey or bourbon) • Don’ts • Chew gum while talking to someone • Surprise a German business person • Don’t compliment them • Try to provide humor during a business setting