Discuss some of the work-related differences that foreign nationals will encounter when working in the United States.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

When working in the United States, foreign nationals will encounter a number of work-related differences:

•    Meetings: People have different views about the purpose of meetings and how much time they should take. Managers should make sure foreign nationals are comfortable with the American approach.
•    Work(aholic) schedules: Workers in countries with strong labor organizations often get many more weeks of vacation than American workers. Europeans in particular may balk at working on weekends. Matters such as these are most helpfully discussed at the beginning of work.
•    E-mail: Sometimes others prefer to communicate face to face. Particularly when language difficulties exist, at the outset managers will probably want to avoid using e-mail for important matters.
•    Fast-trackers: Although U.S. companies may put a young MBA graduate on the fast track to management, most other cultures see no substitute for the wisdom gained through experience. Experienced managers are often best for mentoring inpatriates.
•    Feedback: Other cultures tend to be less lavish in delivering positive feedback than the United States. U.S. managers should keep this in mind when they give foreign nationals their performance reviews and avoid overpraising in public.