Lifestyle and Leisure
The New Zealand workplace
Maike van der Heide takes a look at what it's really like for Brits entering the New Zealand workplace
Managers sweeping the floors, meetings about rugby, general bewilderment regarding your sense of humour...
As Toby Watson makes a particularly sarcastic, typically British joke, the whole office stares back blankly. There is a muffled snigger behind him as a fellow Brit recognises the familiar sense of humour and struggles to withhold his mirth.
Toby has been in New Zealand far too long to get flustered and knows all too well that Kiwis simply don't have the same sense of humour as Brits do, making for some less than comfortable workplace situations.
Happily, the minor issue of humour is one of the biggest differences Brits will notice when they enter the New Zealand workplace.
Another is the Kiwi work ethic. New Zealand is a small country and since the first settlers arrived they have had no choice but to work as hard as they can to make ends meet. That culture has continued to the present day.
When it comes to work, Kiwis more than pull their weight, say Brits, but there is certainly still room for play, be it morning tea shouts, after work pub quizzes or the all-important rugby Super 14 sweepstakes – even work has to take a back seat when it comes to rugby.
The New Zealand workplace is less hierarchical, they say, where even the boss may grab the broom for the end of day cleanup, but the worker will take on responsibilities beyond the call of duty.
Toby says the small population means everyone knows each other, which makes for some interesting workplace scenarios which he describes as almost "tribal."
Overall, Brits say the average workday in New Zealand holds subtle but important differences which are good to know about before the first day at the office.
Work hard and you can't go wrong – and hold back on the jokes.
Related article:
The New Zealand job scene
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