The Handbook Guide To Understanding British Working Culture!

By understanding the British working culture, you’ll not only be able to build strong professional relationships, but you’ll also be able to make true and genuine connections.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. By truly making an effort to integrate into British culture, you’ll quickly immerse yourself in the nation’s values and gain an awareness of how to navigate the workplace.

British people are notorious for being polite, especially when giving indirect communication that can be mistaken for a suggestion.

For example, if you have a manager saying “If you could rearrange your tasks, you might want to look into this project.” While this could sound like a mere suggestion, the underlying context is for you to place this new project as a priority.

Sounds confusing? It doesn’t have to be!

Here are 5 things you must be aware of when working in the UK.

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The majority of British organizations have a distinct hierarchy which has to be respected. There is a chain of command that you will have to follow.

It is important to note that while your managers might be polite and give ‘suggestions’, they are actually instructions and requests that are to be followed. Sure, you will be able to have chances to voice your opinion and give feedback, however, you should not question their authority, especially out in the open.

While there might be fewer hierarchical barriers in countries like the United States, the British make a distinction the higher you go up in position. For example, it will be highly unusual for a director of a company to dine casually with a new hire.

You must maintain political correctness and be highly professional in any work setting. Cracking an occasional joke or two is perfectly fine, but you’d want to communicate professionally.

Everyone is polite in the workplace, in fact, even out of the workplace as well! You must understand that good manners are essential to smooth out conversations while giving due respect to everyone in the room.

For example, if you want some information from a colleague, instead of asking “Can you provide me this piece of information today?”. It is better to request, “Would you mind helping me source this information when you have the time?” Your colleague will get the idea and help you out.

Conversation here is very understated and the word ‘please’ is frequently used next to the word ‘thank you’. It is key to get past this initial discomfort phase and get up to speed and communicate like a Brit.

Just be aware to be extremely polite in every setting, whether you are talking to a client, a colleague or your boss. Practice always makes perfect!

When it comes to punctuality, let’s face it, the majority has frequently turned up late, whether it is half an hour or even just a few minutes. However, you shouldn’t have a lax approach when it comes to the workplace.

Being on time or even early for meetings and deadlines is extremely important. It is not only a sign of your professionalism but also of respect for the people around you.

However, if there is a time to be late, you can do it for drinks after work, especially if it is optional. But you still shouldn’t be too tardy with your time and appear an hour late. Limit yourself to no more than 10 minutes of grace time when it comes to after-work events.

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The Brits are famous for their dry humour and you should learn to embrace it! Dry humour is all about irony, sarcasm and self-deprecating jokes delivered with a serious look.

However, if you are new to it, it can be rather hard to spot. So for starters, you want to note on incongruence of a situation and other clues including the facial expressions and the reactions of others.

Dry humour is especially effective in breaking the ice and reducing tension in a stressful situation. It helps people bond in the workplace and is sometimes a conversation starter even with clients.

But don’t overdo it! Politeness is key and you shouldn’t use dry humour to purposefully poke fun at any individual.

Unlike many metropolitan cities like New York or Singapore that have long working hours, most British people work from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.

This means you get to experience a rather good work-life balance, especially if you have other hobbies outside of work you’d like to pursue.

Maybe it’s visiting the sights and sounds of London or perhaps it is having dinner with friends. Whatever the case, you’ll have ample time to appreciate and integrate into British culture.

You’ll get to play hard after you work hard!

If you are seeking tailored advice in your course selection or looking for advice to work in the UK, we can help!

At IDP, our expert team of education counsellors will help you through the entire application process, from course selection to preparing your accommodation.

This means you’ll be selecting the right course at the right institution and avoiding any pitfalls along the way. We’ll help guide you toward your best decision possible!

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