Saskia Lamb

BUS 302: The Netherlands

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

@CaitlynnHuynh Me too!! Even crazier, many employees save their vacation weeks to take a long summer break. Long absences from work because of accumulated vacation weeks in not uncommon.

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

All full-time Dutch employees get a minimum of 4 weeks vacation, and many companies offer their employees more than this. On average, Dutch vacation averages at 5-6 weeks vacation per year. In addition, their are 8 paid national holidays.

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

That’s interesting that there’s such a strict protocol! In the Netherlands, business cards are typically given at the end of a conversation and includes their function, academic title, and sometimes even their private address and phone number.

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

For Sinterklaas celebrations at work, it is tradition to write a rhyming poem about a colleague that pokes fun or “roasts” them. This is not organized by the company and typically happens in tight knit groups of colleagues.

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

@NedaSohrabi1 @Professor_Hoang Business lunches in the Netherlands are not very common because lunch is seen as more of a necessity than a social event. Most employees tend to eat a small sandwich behind their desk while working.

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

Wow, the Netherlands is the opposite! Communication is very straight-forward which can sometimes appear as direct or blunt. I wonder how a team of Dutch and Japanese employees would work🤔

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

@katiemorita1 @Professor_Hoang That’s crazy!! In the Netherlands is almost always too cold to go without shoes. Your feet would freeze and people would look at you funny.

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

Women in the Netherlands are much more likely to work part-time than women in other countries. In the Netherlands, 75% of working women work less than 35 hours a week, which is almost twice the average in the EU.

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

@_brianbrennan @Professor_Hoang Hi Brian! The Netherlands is quite similar in the sense that personal relationships are very important in the workplace. Dutch culture often mixes private and public life in the workplace.

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

To my great surprise, anyone, regardless of position or field, can voice their opinions and share ideas during team meetings. Because there is a lot of discussion and some ideas need to be approved by every team member, it can take a long time to make decisions.

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

A typical Dutch boss is someone who pampers his people, asks for their opinion and supports them in their development. #BUS302 @Professor_Hoang

[Saskia Lamb @LambSaskia]

Dutch communication is particularly explicit and direct. "Say what you think" and "mean what you say" are very important. This directness and honesty can appear disrespectful or blunt. #BUS302 @Professor_Hoang