Work Culture Of China

Foreign workers in China face cultural differences in the workplace on a regular basis. Anything from dozing off at your desk to being coerced into unpaid overtime falls under this category. Chinese corporate culture differs from that of other countries in several ways.

Overtime hours worked

Most Westerners put in a 9-to-5 weekday shift, and that's when the office is bustling with activity. They show there and leave on the dot, and overtime is quite unusual. Work overtime is rewarded fairly, and employees have the option to decline if they are not interested.

The Chinese mindset differs greatly from the Western one. Most individuals have set work hours, starting anywhere from 7 am to 10 am and ending anywhere between 6 pm and 10 night (or even later). Saturday shifts are commonplace, and Sunday shifts are tolerated in several fields. The "996" system in China mandates that workers put in nine hours a day, six days a week.

In China, overtime is considered normal. Even though employees are paid for their time, employers often require tasks to be completed as quickly as feasible. Some foreigners have difficulty with the expectation of working overtime in Chinese companies, even if the majority of local employees accept it as standard practice, particularly in the tech and startup sectors.

However, it's important to note that Chinese employees often get significant yearly bonuses. Bonuses may range from three months' to eight months' wages at larger organizations where overtime is typical. These extra payments might be thought of as reimbursement for unpaid overtime accrued over the course of a year.

Talking to the higher-ups

Talking to management may be intimidating for an employee in any nation. However, this kind of communication is often handled in two quite different ways in the West and China.

The Western ideal of a manager is one who fosters an atmosphere where employees feel safe providing honest criticism and discussing the company's direction openly and constructively. Those who can think creatively and come up with answers are highly prized.

When voicing problems with management in China, employees need to tread carefully. Since maintaining one's "face" is crucial, it is best to discuss criticism of management one on one rather than in a group setting. Workers who can follow directions and get things done without making a fuss are invaluable.

The Chinese method may promote team spirit since everyone works toward the same goal, but it can also lead to complications when a management has unrealistic expectations for his or her personnel. Employees who are too timid to raise concerns with their supervisor may end up taking their frustrations out on coworkers, other departments, and even customers.

Constructing Effective Teams

Team building exercises are seldom stressed in the West. A lot of businesses don't do it at all, and the ones that do generally just do something little like take their employees out to lunch or on a short outing during the day. Participation in team building exercises is oftentimes voluntary and occurs during regular business hours.

However, in Chinese corporate culture, teamwork is valued much more highly. Whether it's a day at a training camp, an evening at KTV, or a full weekend exploring another city, it's rare to find a Chinese firm that doesn't perform some kind of team building.

In China, team building exercises might last for many days. As an employee, you're obligated to show there, even if it means missing out on some of your free time.

However, these outings are often enjoyable since they provide an opportunity to get to know your coworkers better and expose you to exciting new places. Because of the high likelihood that all expenses would be reimbursed, this trip is almost costless.

Rest time

The discovery of a worker dozing off on the job would be cause for alarm in the vast majority of nations. Have you been drinking all night? Perhaps you're sick and need to stay at home. It's just not done or acceptable behavior.

Nonetheless, in China, this is the standard. Coworkers will eat their meals quickly so they may return to their desks or even fold-out mattresses in the workplace to snooze as soon as possible.

Workers at a Chinese firm often take a nap during the midday period. The lights are off, the curtains are closed, and there is zero tolerance for any kind of noise (from chitchat to video playback) in the workplace. Naps outside of lunchtime occur often as well.