Working in a Polish Office

Just found out that I am going to be working in an exclusively Polish environment - I'll be the only non-Polish speaker in the office.

Anyone got any tips?

I know the basic principles... a smile goes a long way etc. But are there any quirks or tricks to working in a Polish office?... such as making coffee for your colleagues, whip-rounds for birthdays, going out socially after work etc... and any other points

Bits and pieces from my encounters/observations of Polish offices, warning some of it could be dated and/or not apply as much to Poles who've been in Britain for a long time.

1. Always say hello to the room when entering (first time in the day, later not so important) and goodbye when leaving (for the day). Even if everyone seems busy you should do that and they'll notice you won't.

2. Polish people mostly don't celebrate birthdays or namedays at work. Usually the person whose day it is will bring cakes to the office but office birthday parties with gifts aren't the norm.

3. Don't be too quick to make coffee or everyone will assume it's 'your job'. Always qualify that you're making coffee for yourself or will be glad to do it 'this time'. General suggestions that someone less busy than you should make coffee are okay.

4. Polish people mostly don't socialize after work with colleagues. People you work with aren't necessarily friends (they can become friends, but working together isn't enough to establish that).

5. Don't be too familiar or too friendly too quickly, if you start off reserved and professional you can always go back to that when/if you need to. Start off too friendly and you're stuck and no one will take attempts to be reserved/professional seriously.

6. If this is a group that's already used to working together you'll be a newcomer. Newcomers are not necessarily made to feel welcome. Don't take it personally.

7. Polish work places are both more and less hierarchical than US ones (what I know, I don't know so much about the UK). On the one hand, formal deference to the boss is expected, on the other hand, you're free to chase down the boss with your personal problems no matter where they are or what they're doing.

8. Accept small courtesies from male co-workers, opening doors etc. If they get fresh, treat it as a joke (being very slightly confrontational).

9. Find an ally who'll keep you informed (let this happen naturally don't push it). Polish offices usually don't have much in the way of written communication, it's all oral and it's easy to miss stuff. So you want someone who'll keep you apprised of any important announcements while you were out (and you'll reciprocate of course).

10. Don't get upset when they speak Polish to each other in front of you. Trust me, it's almost always because that's easier. 99 % of the time they're talking about you.

11. Don't bring up work problems on breaks. Polish people are very good about leaving work problems at their desk and not talking about them during breaks unless there's no other possible shared topics of interest. Feel free to talk about family, that's always okay.

12. 'Ambitious' is not necessarily a label you want, it's always two-edged for Polish people.

13. Religion, money, politics and sex (or 'relationships' if you will) are okay to talk about _much_ sooner than for British people. So are racial issues (you'll probably want to head that kind of talk off before it starts). If they say bad things about Poland and other Polish people DON'T JOIN IN!!!!! that's a game only Polish people can play.

Mfketis does this come from your experience? Are we (poles) that bad??????? LondonChic there is only one (maybe two) good advice for you: be yourself and smile a lot(even if they don't smile back). I am polish with experience with expats in Poland and poles in England...so don't worry...enjoy your work because you will be in the center of attention!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hi Londonchick, i have worked in 'polish only' offices on and off for the past 6 years. Mafkekis points are very valid and would agree with them.

Ultimately, it will depend on the type of office you go into(like anywhere in the world). The mood of the place will be dependent on what the people there are like, if they like their jobs, if the boss is nice etc. When i first came here in 2002 i was in an open office in the HQ of a nmajor bank. Things were very formal - with the boss being referred to as Direckto and there was very clear lines of command. That was in the days when jobs were very scarce in poland and people were afraid to lose their jobs. Going to UK or Ireland was not yet an option. I was the only non polish speaker there. Initially, things were quite cold towards me(nature of my job did not help) but after a while and a lot of smiling, they did warm up to me.

I am now working in an IT area in the same bank and the mood in the office is very casual. it is a smaller office and i am again the only non speaking polish person here. however, most the the guys speak some english so there is conversation between us and i have been out drinking with them a few times. There would not be the 'spntaneous' going out for a pint like you might get in ireland or the UK. things are a bit more arranged in advanced.

My situation is slightly different in that i am working in the office but not involved with any of the work going on, so by the nature of things, i am not interacting on a work basis. I assume your situation will be different. One bit of advise i would give you is not to go in with the attitude that you know everything. That will get things off to a bad start.(like any office).

As you speak english, people will be interested in talking to you as they will want to practice their english. So that should be a bit of an ice breaker. When you start, and if the people have been nice to you, it is no harm to buy a few donuts just as a thanks for the assitance. And if you are really feeling adventurous, offer to bring them out for a drink as a thank you.

In relation to lunch, and this might just happen where i work, they tent to have a very short lunch at their desk. There is no going to the kitchen/canteen etc. This can be a bit frustrating as you can go mad if you are sitting at your desk without a bit of a break. As i said, maybe that is just in my office.

I think that is about it. Best of luck with it.

Speak Polish but swear in Finnish.

I have never worked in an office, so I wouldn't know. I assume that in an office of Polish people, the manners are on a slightly higher level than working outdoors on a shrubbery.

MISTAKE!!!! That should be 99% of the time they're _not_ talking about you.


Bad? I'm just describing my observations and experiences about differences.
I did not intend to criticize Polish ways at work (which I often prefer).
I focused on the things that are liable to be difficult for someone used to UK office culture because that was what was asked for.

Mafketis I'm very happy to read that this 99% was a mistake :) In the office I used to work we never talked about our foreign collegaues behind their backs, we used to challnege them in the kitchen with some polish words that's it, that was fun (for both sides). Now that I have worked in the UK I must say the work environment is similar to me (attitude and after work habits)...there is only huge difference I have noticed...5pm in the uk-all english people are gone!!!!!!!! 5pm in poland- everyone is still glued to their chairs!!!!!

Blimey....sorry for the spelling mistakes, I'm not used to my new keyboard :(

yes

always best to tell them to their face

lets them know who's boss

Cheers guys... some very interesting insights :)

hi, one IMPORTANT tip:

I am not sure if it had changed, but there may be "worker gangs" in smaller companies ;)
So, someone got a job because his uncle was working there, then he introduced his friend and so on... sometimes it can be a lot of people connected somehow.

So... talking about someone behind his back (but in front of someone else) is VERY BAD idea. Even if other co-workers are moaning. Do NOT join them until you know who is who. Just let them talk ;)

I hope you understand what I mean.

I completely second Siegfried's post. AFAIK the situation hasn't really changed (and is also found in larger companies).

Getting a job through connections "znajomości" is standard procedure and until you have a _really_ good idea of what connects X to Y (liable to not be visible or obvious) it's best to be a little Pollyanna and only say nice things about those not present or at least be non-commital and don't join in the criticism.

Also (while we're here) Polish people are often surprisingly good at establishing functioning working relationships with people they don't like personally (the feeling is mutual and open - nothing two-faced going on) or have very strong disagreements with and often surprisingly bad at establishing that kind of relationship with people they like and/or agree with about most things. This means a lot of the signals of alliances, antipathy etc that you're used to can be deceiving.

Eventually things will shake out and you'll get a clear picture (faster if you know Polish) but don't make any assumptions based on friendly office chats or arguments.

is this office in London or in Poland LC?

w Londynie :)


Yes, a fair point. Cheers.


Hmmmm.... interesting