Foreigners struggle with unwritten rules in the workplace

A Danish study, supported by the Integration Ministry, has found that many immigrants in the workplace have problems interpreting the less concrete communication forms used by their Danish colleagues. Danish workplace culture is often difficult for employees of foreign background to understand, and their unknowing failure to follow accepted behaviours can discourage them. The study found that certain practices – such as questioning your superior, and non-membership in unemployment insurance funds is looked down upon – were generally not understood by immigrant employees. “The informal rules – the workplace culture – isn’t apparent, neither in relationship to recruiting and promotion nor as to how tasks are completed or reciprocal relations operate. Immigrants‘ understanding of the unwritten workplace rules is very poor, and that lack of knowledge can lead to job dissatisfaction, isolation and misunderstandings” says Mehmet Yüksekkaya who conducted the study. To utilize the full potential and maintain the motivation of immigrant employees companies need to include them not only in the working process but as well in the informal organisation.