Why Germans Work Fewer Hours But Produce More: A Study In Culture
knote.com. Eryn Paul, November 10, 2014
http://knote.com/2014/11/10/why-germans-work-fewer-hours-but-produce-more-a-study-in-culture/
When many Americans think of Germany, images of WWII soldiers and Hitler
often come to mind. But what many people don’t realize is that Germany
is the industrial powerhouse of Europe, and is a leading manufacturer of
goods for export to developing Asian nations. We don’t hear about the
superiority of German engineering in Volkswagen commercials for nothing!
The economic engine of the EU, Germany single-handedly saved the
Eurozone from collapse in 2012. At the same time, German workers enjoy
unparalleled worker protections and shorter working hours than most of
their global counterparts. How can a country that works an average of 35
hours per week (with an average 24 paid vacation days to boot) maintain
such a high level of productivity?
Working Hours Mean Working Hours
In German business culture, when an employee is at work, they should not
be doing anything other than their work. Facebook, office gossip with
co-workers, trolling Reddit for hours, and pulling up a fake spreadsheet
when your boss walks by are socially unacceptable behaviors. Obviously,
in the United States these behaviors are frowned up on by management.
But in Germany, there is zero tolerance among peers for such frivolous
activities.
In the BBC documentary “Make Me A German“, a young German woman
explained her culture shock while on a working exchange to the UK.
“I was in England for an exchange… I was in the office and the
people are talking all the time about their private things… ‘What’s the
plan for tonight?’, and all the time drinking coffee…”
She was quite surprised by the casual nature of British workers. Upon
further discussion, the Germans reveal that Facebook is not allowed in
the office whatsoever, and no private email is permitted.
Goal-Oriented, Direct Communication Is Valued
German business culture is one of intense focus and direct
communication. While Americans tend to value small talk and maintaining
an upbeat atmosphere, Germans rarely beat around the bush. German
workers will directly speak to a manager about performance reviews,
launch into a business meeting without any ‘icebreakers’, and use
commanding language without softening the directives with polite
phrases.Whereas an American would say, “It would be great if you could
get this to me by 3pm,” a German would say, “I need this by 3pm”.
When a German is at work, they are focused and diligent, which in turn
leads to higher productivity in a shorter period of time.
Germans Have a Life Outside Work
Germans work hard and play hard. Since the working day is focused on
delivering efficient productivity, the off hours are truly off hours.
Because of the focused atmosphere and formal environment of German
businesses, employees don’t necessarily hang out together after work.
Germans generally value a separation between private life and working life.
The German government is currently considering a ban on work-related
emails after 6pm, to counter the accessibility that smartphones and
constant connectivity give employers to their employees. Can you imagine
President Obama enacting such a policy in the United States?
To occupy their plentiful Freizeit, most Germans are involved in Verein
(clubs); regularly meeting others with shared interests in their
community. Common interests in Germany include Sportvereine (sports
clubs), Gesangvereine (choirs or singing clubs), Musikvereine (music
clubs), Wandervereine (hiking clubs), Tierzuchtvereine (animal breeding
clubs – generally rabbits/pigeons) and collectors’ clubs of all stripes.
Even the smallest village in Germany will have several active Vereinen
to accommodate residents’ interests. Rather than settling in for a night
of TV after work, most Germans socialize with others in their community
and cultivate themselves as people.
Germans also enjoy a high number of paid vacation days, with many
salaried employees receiving 25-30 paid days (the law requires 20).
Extended holidays mean families can enjoy up to a month together,
renting an apartment by the seaside or taking a long trip to a new,
exciting city.
Business Respects Parenthood
Germany’s system of Elternzeit (“parent time” or parental leave) is the
stuff of fantasy for most working Americans. The United States does not
currently have laws requiring maternity leave, while Germany has some of
the most extensive parental protection policies in the developed world.
The downside of these maternity leave benefits is that employers may
avoid hiring women (with the fear that they will take advantage of the
extensive benefits), and German boardrooms are consistently
male-dominated at a higher rate than other developed nations, although
the government is working to eradicate this trend. The financial
benefits of staying home (from both Elternzeit and Elterngeld or
parents’ money programs) are often too good to pass up for German
mothers, and can lead to stagnant or non-existent careers.
Since “at will” employment does not exist in Germany, all employees have
contracts with their employer. Parents who have been gainfully employed
for the previous 12 months are eligible for Elternzeit benefits, which
include up to three years of unpaid leave with a “sleeping” contract.
The employee is eligible to work part-time up to 30 hours while on
leave, and must be offered full-time employment at the conclusion of the
parental leave. Parents may also choose to postpone up to one year of
their leave until the child’s 8th birthday. Either parent is eligible
for parental leave, and many couples make the choice based on financial
considerations.
In addition to the preservation of the employee’s contract, the state
will pay up 67% of the employee’s salary (with a cap of 1800 Euros per
month) for 14 months. Parents may split the 14 months however they
choose. These benefits apply equally to same-sex couples.
Have you picked your jaw up off the floor yet?
The German work culture is very different from the average American
office, but there are certainly lessons to be learned from our German
counterparts. The diligent focus Germans bring to their working life is
to be admired. Separating work from play can help us lead a more
balanced life; putting the phone down after hours gives us a mental
break from stressing about work, and we can return to the office
refreshed in the morning. When it’s time to get something done, closing
Facebook and turning off push notifications helps keep our minds quiet
and the flow steady. Direct conversation can lead to increased
efficiency, and more clarity of communication among team members.
Americans often equate longer hours with increased production and
superior work ethic, but examining the German model makes one wonder:
When it comes to time at work, maybe less really is more!
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Albert Peres
afpe...@3129.ca
416.660.0847 cell