Communication in business culture and meetings is formal and employees speak to each other politely but efficiently. German work ethics mean employees always turn up on time and do a full day's work, they are in turn rewarded with fair pay and good working conditions.
Germans enjoy a reputation for a strong work ethic. One thing that Germans hold in very high esteem is doing everything the right way. This idea applies both to actual work and the workspaces, which are kept organized and tidy.
The German work culture is also based on the idea of community which values cooperation and teamwork. This has helped Germany become one of the world's leading economies with a perfect balance between work and personal life.
German people tend to be thrifty, be sensible, and respect one another's privacy, and they typically respect the structure and laws of society to an above-average degree. There is no place that this sense of 'order' is more apparent than in German business culture.
The physical characteristics of Germans include light skin, above average heights, square jaws, and sharp facial features. The stereotypical character traits that define Germans include efficiency, punctuality, orderliness, and not using many words.
Typical Germans have high demands for punctuality in their acquaintances and friends as well as business partners. The lifestyle of German is very private and involves very direct structure and routines on their life. Germans relationship with food is based on traditions and rituals of eating cooked food together.
An average working week in Germany as a full-time employee
Naturally, the hours worked in Germany vary depending on whether you work full-time or part-time. An average working week in Germany as a full-time employee is between 36 and 40 hours, with working days in Germany between 7 and 8 hours.
According to the OECD, Germans work roughly 20 percent fewer hours than American workers. Annual leave of at least 20-25 days (excluding public holidays) is a given in your average German company. And employees return the favor with focused work, driving quality, innovation, and financial performance.
Working Hours in Germany
Legal working days in Germany are from Monday to Saturday, but for most workers, a standard work week is from 8 or 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Employees are allowed to work up to 10 hours per day, as long as the total weekly work time is not longer than 48 hours.
Germans (German: Deutsche, pronounced [ˈdɔʏtʃə] ( listen)) are the natives or inhabitants of Germany, and sometimes more broadly any people who are of German descent or native speakers of the German language.
German Values
Order and organization: Germans are often considered highly efficient and matter-of-fact people. They value punctuality, rules, and order. Privacy and space: Personal information is often kept private, and it is common for Germans to keep a clear distinction between their personal and professional lives.
Task Oriented Over Relationship Oriented
Depending on the industry, business is seen as strictly professional with no association to one's personal life. As a part of this business-only mindset, Germans may find excessively polite language and customs to be unnecessary and obstructive to whatever task is at hand.
Monday to Saturday are considered the legal working days, but most employees typically work from Monday to Friday. Workdays usually start between 8-9 am and finish between 5-6 pm. Lunch breaks are 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Working Hours in Germany
The average working week in Germany is between 36 and 40 hours over a six-day period, Monday to Saturday. The maximum statutory limit for working hours is eight hours per day and 48 hours per week, averaged over six months. However, under certain circumstances it can be extended to 10 hours.
First things first, let's take a look at the overall average salary in Germany. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, the average annual gross salary in 2020 stood at €47,700, equivalent to a monthly income of €3,975, before taxes.
Work on Sundays and public holidays is generally prohibited. There are exceptions available for workers in the service industry. However, work on Sundays has to be compensated for by corresponding time off within the next two weeks (or eight weeks in the case of work on public holidays).
Statutory full-time working hours
In Germany, a typical workweek consists of 36-40 hours. The majority of full-time occupations in Germany are seven or eight hours a day, five days a week, with an hour or 30 minutes break at lunchtime. Working without a break for more than six hours is illegal in Germany!
Legal limits to working hours in Germany
The working week runs from Monday to Saturday, and employees must not work more than 48 hours per week. This can be extended to 10 hours per day, if within six months (or 24 weeks) the overall average working time does not exceed eight hours per day.
Global Peace Index ranks 163 countries based on their overall level of peacefulness; Germany was ranked 16th in 2022. The crime rate is low, and Germans place a high value on law and order. Some areas are always more dangerous than others, but Germany is generally a very safe place.
Habits of German People and Social Manners:
They are hospitable, honest, and trustworthy people. Moreover, they honour the guest and exchange gifts and kind words of thanks with him. True friendships take time in Germany between citizens and newcomers.
The German approach to dating: slow and steady
Compared to countries like Italy and Spain, where dating is passionate, Germans have a rational approach to dating. They prefer to go on casual dates and use the dating phase to get to know you better.