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Customs in workplace in Poland


vndunne 43 | 279  
1 Jul 2009 /  #1
Hi. I am located in a polish office and there are 4 polish people working in the office with me. i dont work with them and am just located here.

I was just wondering if a few things are common in polish offices:
- When people are talking, they all talk over each other and dont seem to listen. Also, as the conversation moves on, each member seems to get louder.

- Have all conversations on the phone via conference and dont use the handset; the result being is that they are shouting at the phone and you can hear the other side of the conversation.

- Closure of doors must be done with as loud a bang as is humanly possible.

It is exhanusting being in the middle of it.

vincent
bunia 1 | 134  
1 Jul 2009 /  #2
Did you try to talk to them about it ?
It definitely doesn't sound normal for me! Maybe except of talking over each other part ;) We sometimes do that :)
markcooper 4 | 80  
1 Jul 2009 /  #3
Hi. I am located in a polish office and there are 4 polish people working in the office with me.

This sounds more like our office ( english).
OP vndunne 43 | 279  
2 Jul 2009 /  #4
Yeah. It could probably be applied to a lot of offices around the place. I don't want to ruin their fun but boy, it is tiring... I definitely see an opening for 'effective communication' in Poland.. :-)
frd 7 | 1,399  
2 Jul 2009 /  #5
In my place it's rather quiet, the only thing spoiling the silence is when someone is "copy pasting" a lot hitting ctrl+c and ctrl+v rapidly ; ) And if you really need to discuss something you just go to his box and talk quietly.. the only place for chit-chats is the kitchen, and usually commotion occurs when people are going there to have a lunch at about 11:00..
1jola 14 | 1,879  
2 Jul 2009 /  #6
It is exhanusting being in the middle of it.

Poor baby, will you make it?

Re #1. Many people think Italians are constantly fighting. See the similarity?
OP vndunne 43 | 279  
2 Jul 2009 /  #7
Actually, i politely asked to move desk..and they are facilitating me. I should say that i have worked in open plan offices all my life and never had a problem. The people who are in my room are very nice but boy, do they make a lot of noise in pursuit of their daily jobs. :-)
1jola 14 | 1,879  
2 Jul 2009 /  #8
It just seem to me you find yourself in an unfamiliar setting so you think everything is strange. Having traveled to over 40 countries and worked in 4, I find very little strange or annoying anymore.

I think after a while it will seem almost normal or at least familiar. Toke some weed to lessen the trauma :)
LAGirl 9 | 496  
3 Jul 2009 /  #9
I have Polish friends not one of them are lazy they are hard working people that I can say at least they work and pay their taxes.
Harry  
3 Jul 2009 /  #10
He's not saying that the people in the same office as him are lazy: he's not making any comment at all about how hard they work. What he is doing is saying how loud they are. The people in my office are the same: they do their jobs but they make a hell of a lot of noise.
Seanus 15 | 19,674  
3 Jul 2009 /  #11
The first points are accurate. I've noticed that there is extremism, either very loud and talking over one another or quiet and shutting others out. It's a race to get the message out half the time. Listening to old people talk is comical too, two simultaneous dialogues. One is talking about how bad her back is and the other is talking about the weather, both looking in the general direction of the other but not paying attention.

The communal door downstairs has been wrecked due to mindless slamming. They have wrenched the handle almost off its hinges too. Monkeys! Very boorish at times!

Related: Cultural values, communication protocol and behavior expectation at Poland workplace

I am preparing a HR assignment about the expats in Poland. Can anyone please help me about the working conditions and protocols and hierarchy at the work place.

No, we don't do work assignments. Sorry. Look up Geert Hofstede and the country rankings for Poland and that will be good start for you.

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