DECEMBER 08 Doing Business Globally Requires More Than Compliance with Legal Mandates

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When stepping into a foreign country, be sure to start on the right foot. DECEMBER 08 Doing business globally requires more than compliance with legal mandates. Knowledge

of local customs is also critical, especially when making a first impression. A monthly best practices alert for multinationals confronting the As 2008 draws to a close (none too soon), and we all look forward to greeting the New challenges of the global workplace Year, we offer some tips on how to say hello in countries around the world.

This Month’s With best wishes from the International Labor Group. Challenge

When doing business abroad, Hugs and Business Gestures/ not knowing the local customs Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space can lead to serious embarrassment. EUROPE UK A handshake Generally Customs Avoid Direct eye Pants actually Best Practice is the most no kissing similar to excessive hand contact is means appropriate or hugging. U.S. gestures and common and underwear, not Tip of the Month greeting. displays of acceptable, but trousers. emotion. don’t be too A little preparation can prevent intense. a lot of trouble. Get to know France A handshake In social Cards The U.S. sign Direct eye Always apologize the local customs before is the most settings, should be for ok means contact is if you do not embarking for an international appropriate friends do printed in zero in France. common and speak French business meeting. greeting and les bises English acceptable, and or if you need to farewell. (touching on one sometimes conduct business However, cheeks and side and intense. in another handshakes air- French on language that you are not as firm kissing). the other. are more comfortable with. as in the U.S. Business or Germany. cards Avoid being received overly loud. should be Interrupting is treated common and with considered part of respect. the art of argument/ discussion.

Hugs and Business Gestures/ Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space Germany A firm handshake with Generally no Customs Avoid excessive Direct eye contact Address people direct eye contact is the kissing or similar to U.S. hand gestures is common and by their title and most appropriate greeting hugging. and displays of acceptable. always as Herr and farewell. emotion. so-and-so, unless otherwise requested. Be punctual.

Italy A handshake is the most Close women Business cards Expect a lot of Direct eye contact Flowers must be appropriate greeting, and friends may are only talking with is common and given in even may include grasping the touch cheeks and exchanged in one’s hands. acceptable. numbers. arm with the other hand. air-kiss. the business Business matters setting. Close male are generally not friends may Many Italians discussed in embrace and slap have a less social settings. each other on the formal card to It is common for back. exchange in people to talk social settings. over each other.

Netherlands A warm and hearty Generally, the Customs similar Avoid excessive Direct eye contact is Despite being handshake is the most Dutch are formal to U.S. hand gestures and common and basically reserved, appropriate greeting for and reserved in displays of acceptable. the Dutch have a both men and women. public. emotion. manner of speaking that may startle you by its directness.

Spain A handshake is the most Men who are Cards should The U.S. sign for Direct eye contact Dining is appropriate greeting. close friends be printed in ok is a rude sign is common and usually may shake hands English on one in Spain. expected. associated with and hug each side and establishing other; women Spanish on the business who are friends other. relationships in may hug and air- Spain, so be kiss on both prepared for cheeks. your business associate(s) to join you at any or all of your daily meals.

Russia A firm, handshake while Close friends and Cards should People tend to Direct eye contact In formal maintaining direct eye family may hug be printed in stand close to the is common and situations, contact is the most and kiss. English on one other person acceptable. people use all appropriate greeting. side and when talking. three names, Russian on the whilst friends The U.S. sign for other. ok is a rude sign and close in Russia. acquaintances may refer to each other by their first name and patronymic; for example, Ivan Ivanovich.

International HR Best Practices Newsletter 2

Hugs and Business Gestures/ Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space MIDDLE EAST/ NORTH AFRICA

Israel In a business context with Generally no Customs Always use the Direct eye contact Spatial foreigners, a handshake is kissing or similar to U.S. right hand. is common and relationships are the most appropriate hugging. expected. much The thumbs up greeting. closer during gesture is conversation. offensive throughout the Arab world.

Saudi Arabia In a business context with Many Saudi men Cards should Always use the Direct eye contact Spatial foreigners, a handshake is accompany their have English right hand. is common and relationships expected. the most appropriate greetings with an on one side and The thumbs up among males are greeting; however, it may embrace and Arabic on the much closer gesture is feel a bit more like a hand- cheek kissing. other. during offensive hold. conversation. However, Always receive throughout the Women should follow visitors who are cards with the Arab world. If a Saudi man their host’s lead. not established right hand. is accompanied close friends by a veiled Also, wait for the host’s should not make woman, he will lead when greeting women. physical contact probably not except to shake introduce her. hands. It is important not to rush the negotiation process. Generally, no may be signalled by a sharp tilt backward of the head, and yes with a couple of sharp tilts forward. A yes might mean maybe.

International HR Best Practices Newsletter 3

Hugs and Business Gestures/ Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space Egypt In a business context with Men in Egypt Cards should Always use the Direct eye contact Spatial foreigners, a handshake is tend to be more have English right hand. between men is relationships the most appropriate touch-oriented, on one side and common, and among males are The thumbs up greeting; however, it may thus a handshake Arabic on the sometimes even much closer. gesture is other. intense. feel a bit more like a hand- may be offensive Egyptians will hold. accompanied by Always receive throughout the It is considered tend to stand a gentle touching Women should follow cards with the Arab world. a sign of honesty close and if you their host’s lead. of the elbow right hand and and sincerity. move away, this with the other make a point of may be seen as a Also, wait for the host’s hand. studying it sign of lead when greeting aloofness. women. before putting it away. On the other hand, men and women stand farther apart than in the United States and Europe. Yes may mean possibly.

Algeria A handshake is the most Algerians may Always give or Always use the Direct eye contact Spatial appropriate greeting. give each other a receive right hand. between men is relationships kiss on the cheek business cards common; however among males However, a person may The thumbs up but only for with the right prolonged, direct will be much continue to hold the hand gesture is hand. during the ensuing small friends and offensive eye contact is not closer and a family. acceptable person may talk. It is a good idea throughout the between men and even hold to have them Arab world. Women should follow women. translated into another’s arm their host’s lead. while Arabic or conversing. Also, wait for the host’s French. lead when greeting Gifts, such as women. pastries, fruits, and flowers, are common to cement relationships, but they are generally not opened in front of the giver. Saying no directly is usually avoided.

International HR Best Practices Newsletter 4

Hugs and Business Gestures/ Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space ASIA

China A handshake is now Definitely No. Cards should Public displays Prolonged direct Actually saying customary, but a nod of be printed in of affection are eye contact is no is generally the head or a slight bow is English on one not common. considered avoided, instead sufficient. side and impolite and even it is often Personal space is intimidating. Neither should include too Chinese on the smaller. communicated other. much direct eye contact. by tipping the Pointing should head backward Present card be done with an and audibly with both hands open hand. and accept it sucking air in through the using both Beckoning teeth. hands to show should be done respect. with the open Silence during palm facing conversation is downward with customary and the fingers acceptable. moving back and forth in a curling motion.

Japan Bowing is traditional, but a Definitely No. Cards should Standing with Prolonged direct Actually saying handshake with a light grip be printed in your hands in eye contact is no is generally accompanied by a slight English on one your pockets considered avoided, instead bow is a good show of side and may be impolite and even it is often respect for traditional Japanese on the considered rude. intimidating. communicated custom. other. by tipping the Overly head backward Avoid too much direct eye Present card demonstrative contact. with both hands behavior should and audibly sucking air in and accept it be avoided. The person of lower rank through the using both bows first; a formal bow is Pointing should teeth. hands to show 30 degrees, an informal be done with an bow is 15 degrees. respect. open hand. Silence during conversation is Beckoning customary and should be done acceptable. with the open palm facing downward with the fingers moving back and forth in a curling motion.

Korea Bowing is traditional, but a Definitely No. Cards should Pointing should Prolonged direct Actually saying handshake with a light grip be traded be done with an eye contact is no is generally accompanied by respectfully. open hand. considered avoided. a slight bow is a good Keeping it on Beckoning impolite and even Try to phrase show of respect for intimidating. the table in should be done questions to traditional customs. front of one is a with the open avoid the Women usually do not sign of respect. palm facing necessity of the shake hands, especially downward with other party with men, but usually just the fingers having to say nod slightly. moving back and no. The senior person offers to forth in a curling Silence during motion. shake hands first, but the conversation is junior person bows first. customary and acceptable.

International HR Best Practices Newsletter 5

Hugs and Business Gestures/ Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space Taiwan The handshake has Definitely No. Cards should Avoid loud Prolonged direct Great respect become the customary be traded boisterous eye contact is should be shown form of greeting, but respectfully, behavior. considered to the elderly. without too much direct keeping it on impolite and even Pointing should The gesture to eye contact. intimidating. the table in be done with an indicate no is to front of one is a open hand. lift the hand to sign of respect, face level, palm Beckoning but do not facing outward, scrutinize it in should be done and moving it the presence of with the open back and forth palm facing the other like a wind- person. downward with the fingers shield wiper, sometimes with moving back and a smile. forth in a curling motion.

India The handshake has No, especially Business cards Standing with Prolonged direct Dress become the customary between a man only in English your hands on eye contact is conservatively, form of greeting in and a woman. are fine and are your hips considered avoid too much westernized urban settings, Indian culture is normally is considered an impolite and even leather if the but there are also the fairly handed out at aggressive intimidating. hosts are hindu. customary forms of conservative the beginning posture. Accept the greeting among Hindi, about physical of the meeting, offered Muslims, and Sikhs. contact. taken with the tea/coffee as a When shaking hands with right hand, and show of put respectfully a woman, wait for her politeness and initiative. in the pocket. good will. However, be If she does not offer her sure that there A direct no is hand, use the traditional are enough for considered greeting, which is used everyone harsh, evasive between Indians: present. refusals are more common. hold the palms of both hands together under the I’ll try is an chin, smile, bow slightly acceptable and say Namaste. sustitute for no.

LATIN AMERICA

Argentina A handhsake is the most Close male Cards should People converse Maintaining eye Be prepared for appropriate greeting. friends will be in English with each other contact is business to take shake hands on one side and at a much closer important. longer and to and/or embrace Spanish on the distance engage in small each other. other. and may talk. maintain Close female No formal Dress physical contact friends will kiss ritual. conservatively. each other. while conversing.

International HR Best Practices Newsletter 6

Hugs and Business Gestures/ Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space Brazil A handhsake is the most Generally no Cards should People converse Maintaining eye Business usually appropriate greeting. kissing and be in English with each other contact is begins with hugging, but on one side and at a much closer important. small talk first. touching of Portuguese on distance and may Dress shoulders, backs, the other. maintain conservatively. and elbows is physical contact No formal fairly common. ritual. while conversing. The ok sign is considered vulgar.

Costa Rica A handhsake is the most Generally no Cards should People converse Maintaining eye Be fairly appropriate greeting. kissing and be in English with each other contact is punctual for hugging. on one side and at a much closer important. meetings. Dress Spanish on the distance. conservatively. other. No formal ritual.

Chile A handhsake is the most Abrazos Cards should People converse Maintaining eye Dress appropriate greeting. (embrace) is be in English with each other contact shows conservatively. common on one side and at a much closer interest and between good Spanish on the distance and may sincerity. male friends, other. No maintain while female formal ritual. physical contact friends hug and while kiss each other conversing. on both cheeks.

Venzuela A handshake is the most Abrazos Cards should People converse Maintaining eye Be punctual. appropriate greeting. (embrace) is be in English with each other contact is Small talk is common on one side and at a much closer important. limited. between good Spanish on the distance and may Dress male friends, and other. maintain conservatively. women friends physical contact No formal may give each ritual. while other a kiss on conversing. the cheek. However, touching of arms and shoulders while conversing is common.

Mexico A handshake Abrazos Cards should People converse Not making eye Avoid saying no is the most appropriate (embrace) is be in English with each other contact may be a directly. greeting; however, wait for common on one side and at a much closer sign of respect. We will see is the woman to offer her between good Spanish on the distance and may an acceptable hand first. other. male friends, and maintain substitute for women friends No formal physical contact no. may give each ritual. while other a kiss on conversing. Dress the cheek. conservatively.

International HR Best Practices Newsletter 7

International Labor and Employment Law Practice Group

Proskauer Rose LLP’s International Labor and Employment Law Practice Group counsels companies doing business globally in connection with the employment issues they face in their workplaces around the world.

For more information about this practice, click here or contact:

Bettina B. Plevan 212.969.3065 – [email protected]

Aaron J. Schindel 212.969.3090 – [email protected]

Howard Z. Robbins 212.969.3912 – [email protected]

Yasmine Tarasewicz 33.1.53.05.60.18 – [email protected]

Anthony J. Oncidi 310.284.5690 – [email protected]

Jeremy M. Mittman 310.284.5634 – [email protected]

Allan H. Weitzman 561.995.4760 – [email protected]

This publication is a service to our clients and friends. It is designed only to give general information on the developments actually covered. It is not intended to be a comprehensive summary of recent developments in the law, treat exhaustively the subjects covered, provide legal advice, or render a legal opinion.