Our Russian colleague-translator worked for several years in both Italy and Germany in different companies, and then decided to describe the difference in mentalities.

Overworking

In Germany, office workers are present from about 8.30 to 16.30. On average.

In Italy, the more hours you work after 6, the better. You show interest in the work! Leaving at 20:00, constant, is the norm in Italy! Leaving at 18:00 is equal to a bomb planted in the team!

Meetings

In Italy, meetings are organized for 10+ people and half a day at a time. You can be late, you can answer the phone while sitting at your desk and even presenting, you can go out for a smoke/coffee/go to another meeting and then come back and ask “What happened while I was gone?”.

You’ll be told. Decisions are not made in meetings anyway. It’s the fact of expressing a point of view that counts, and then the boss alone will make the decision.

In Germany, it’s the exact opposite. 30 minutes – an hour at the most. And as a result, a decision must be made and recorded.

Amendments to the paperwork, you’re the boss, I’m the fool

10 versions of a document in Italy? Easy! 25? Maybe. Because the concept of “I’m the boss, you’re the fool” rules. Redo as many times as you’re asked. We can go round and round on the original version, but it doesn’t count. Every boss considers it his duty to make 100+ revisions to a document, even if they contradict each other. The main thing is to show your work.

In Germany – one document – one edit – released!

Ornateness

In Italy, it is considered that a paragraph-long sentence (several lines) is the norm, but it should be enriched with verbal turns and details and in no way use repetition, but find synonyms. Otherwise, the essence and, most importantly, the style is lost.

In Germany it is the direct opposite. Short, chopped sentences.

In Italy the report is 10-40 pages, in Germany, a similar one is 5-10.

Flexible schedule

In Germany, you’ve done your job, walk free.

In Italy they count by the minute how much time you spend in the office. God forbid you didn’t finish 15 minutes…

Sick leave

In Germany, up to 2-3 days – just a call to the boss, saying I’m not feeling well.

In Italy too, a call to the boss, who will send you to a therapist to write a sick leave. So that everything is formalized!

Office hangout

In Italy – everyone socializes with each other, goes out for coffee in crowds, smokes in crowds, etc.
Even in an open space there are constant general conversations and topics for discussion.

In Germany – 30 minutes for lunch all together and…. all. Rare couples can still have a smoke together. The bulk of people sit in their seats and keep your head down.

Employee parking lots

For some reason, in Italy, it is considered the norm that for 100 employees there are 60 parking lots…. It’s an incentive to arrive early. Those who don’t arrive early park in the yards/receive fines.

In Germany, on the contrary, 120 places are built for 100 people, so that there are enough. Not once in 10 years have I met full parking lots.

Going outside the territory and security

In Italy, going outside the territory during working hours must be earned (by position). There are clear regulations about who can go out on their own, and who can only be let out by the permission of the boss.

In Germany, no one cares who comes and goes in and out, when and how.

Swearing and shouting

In Italy it’s normal to shout a little and swear a little. No, you can’t swear all over the place, but you can swear a little to get the point across, apparently.

In Germany it’s strictly forbidden. The only time a CFO in Finland allowed herself to swear at a meeting, my boss remembered her for a long time as an example of a bad specialist.

Dependants and taxes

Both in Italy and Germany dependents give a tax deduction, except that in Italy it is equal to going (one) to a pizzeria, and in Germany rent an apartment for a month (counting from a salary of 80k euros + per year).

Vacations and August

Both in Italy and Germany there is a concept of “office closure”, when the staff sits at home, but uses their vacation for this purpose (e.g. from Christmas to New Year). It’s a vacation yes, but it’s a vacation that the company decided for you. In Italy went further, and from 5 weeks of vacation a year to 3 weeks you write off immediately in August, because everything is closed.

In Germany, you max “hang” 3-4 days before New Year’s Eve, in Italy the whole of August. Total “free” vacation in Italy 2 weeks, in Germany 4.=

Canteen

What they eat in German canteens, no junior assistant cleaner would eat in Italy.

In Italy it’s pasta + grilled (in front of you) meat, liver, seafood and vegetables + fresh green salad + fruit and sweets

In Germany – Sausage/Schnitzel + 10 variations of potatoes = screw you.