OVERKILL
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A bit of a piece on Germany:
BBC - Make me a German
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You could say my fellow US citizens also have a problem with efficiency and attention to detail. I'm part German (granted about five generations removed) but I am absolutely annoyed by folks that do not work efficiently and effectively. People in the US love to waste time in the workplace, which results in spending MORE TIME on the job.
interesting...
And I think a lot of US folks would be fine with that educational approach. Myself included. I was terrible at sitting still but excellent at sharpening and firing hardening sticks... I would have lead the great nap-time revolt.
Efficiency differs. Some professions need efficiency and others need more creativity. One person's time wasting could be productivity for others.
And I think a lot of US folks would be fine with that educational approach. Myself included. I was terrible at sitting still but excellent at sharpening and firing hardening sticks... I would have lead the great nap-time revolt.
Efficiency differs. Some professions need efficiency and others need more creativity. One person's time wasting could be productivity for others.
OVERKILL
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You are quite welcome
My home town.
Where they show the Hitler Tribune there was a POW camp 2 km away. Stalag Luft 13d, the fictional Hogans Hero's camp.
Where they show the Hitler Tribune there was a POW camp 2 km away. Stalag Luft 13d, the fictional Hogans Hero's camp.
Good stuff, always interesting to get an inside look at other cultures.
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
You could say my fellow US citizens also have a problem with efficiency and attention to detail. I'm part German (granted about five generations removed) but I am absolutely annoyed by folks that do not work efficiently and effectively. People in the US love to waste time in the workplace, which results in spending MORE TIME on the job.
That may be because employers in the two countries are so different. What I took away is that a German company expects a certain amount of work, and after it is completed you go home. In the US if you finish early you have to stay, and likely get to either do nothing or get assigned some busy work...when I worked in an office, there was always the end of the day, waiting until your shift was over.
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
You could say my fellow US citizens also have a problem with efficiency and attention to detail. I'm part German (granted about five generations removed) but I am absolutely annoyed by folks that do not work efficiently and effectively. People in the US love to waste time in the workplace, which results in spending MORE TIME on the job.
That may be because employers in the two countries are so different. What I took away is that a German company expects a certain amount of work, and after it is completed you go home. In the US if you finish early you have to stay, and likely get to either do nothing or get assigned some busy work...when I worked in an office, there was always the end of the day, waiting until your shift was over.
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Originally Posted By: Kuato
Good stuff, always interesting to get an inside look at other cultures.
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
You could say my fellow US citizens also have a problem with efficiency and attention to detail. I'm part German (granted about five generations removed) but I am absolutely annoyed by folks that do not work efficiently and effectively. People in the US love to waste time in the workplace, which results in spending MORE TIME on the job.
That may be because employers in the two countries are so different. What I took away is that a German company expects a certain amount of work, and after it is completed you go home. In the US if you finish early you have to stay, and likely get to either do nothing or get assigned some busy work...when I worked in an office, there was always the end of the day, waiting until your shift was over.
OMG I know I would get a ton more work done if I could go home when finished. Given a reasonable work assignment of course! Not for every work situation but I like that idea.
Good stuff, always interesting to get an inside look at other cultures.
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
You could say my fellow US citizens also have a problem with efficiency and attention to detail. I'm part German (granted about five generations removed) but I am absolutely annoyed by folks that do not work efficiently and effectively. People in the US love to waste time in the workplace, which results in spending MORE TIME on the job.
That may be because employers in the two countries are so different. What I took away is that a German company expects a certain amount of work, and after it is completed you go home. In the US if you finish early you have to stay, and likely get to either do nothing or get assigned some busy work...when I worked in an office, there was always the end of the day, waiting until your shift was over.
OMG I know I would get a ton more work done if I could go home when finished. Given a reasonable work assignment of course! Not for every work situation but I like that idea.
When you were sitting around waiting for your shift to end why did you not volunteer to take on some more work? The time would have passed much faster.
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
A bit of a piece on Germany:
The title of your thread made me think perhaps you were linking to "The Germans" episode of Fawlty Towers.
A bit of a piece on Germany:
The title of your thread made me think perhaps you were linking to "The Germans" episode of Fawlty Towers.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
A bit of a piece on Germany:
The title of your thread made me think perhaps you were linking to "The Germans" episode of Fawlty Towers.
Oh my! hahahah, I remember that one!
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
A bit of a piece on Germany:
The title of your thread made me think perhaps you were linking to "The Germans" episode of Fawlty Towers.
Oh my! hahahah, I remember that one!
Whatever you do, don't link that one. Given the language the major employs when talking about cricketers, that might earn one a BITOG vacation.
As for the actual video, I'll have to give that a watch when I have some time.
As for the actual video, I'll have to give that a watch when I have some time.
Originally Posted By: Blueskies123
When you were sitting around waiting for your shift to end why did you not volunteer to take on some more work? The time would have passed much faster.
Sure that makes sense, but two problems at that job. 1) they would have expected more work every day (which was true anyway) and 2) on the days when I had to stay late they would neither put some of my workload on someone else that was finished, nor would they pay me extra for staying late. Not enough room to explain it fully, suffice to say that they had the same amount of staff over 12 years, with the business increasing 4x over that time....
When you were sitting around waiting for your shift to end why did you not volunteer to take on some more work? The time would have passed much faster.
Sure that makes sense, but two problems at that job. 1) they would have expected more work every day (which was true anyway) and 2) on the days when I had to stay late they would neither put some of my workload on someone else that was finished, nor would they pay me extra for staying late. Not enough room to explain it fully, suffice to say that they had the same amount of staff over 12 years, with the business increasing 4x over that time....
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Last year there was a popular book published in the U.K. titled "How to be Danish"
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18143912-how-to-be-danish
It explores the differences between the British and Danish culture and lifestyle.
A very good read by the way
I wonder if this BBC program was inspired by the book, or if the British, these days, feel they need to be something other than what they are?
I'm Brit by birth, I have spent about half my life living and working in the U.K. But I do have the feeling that the country, perhaps, feels it has lost some of it's 'identity' in the last 30 years or so?
Any thoughts from our Brit contributors?
For what it's worth.
My thoughts on the North American worker:
A lot of emphasis is put on the # of Hours worked, not what is achieved!
Lots of pseudo meetings around the water cooler.
Emphasis is on personal advancement, with little loyalty to the employer.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18143912-how-to-be-danish
It explores the differences between the British and Danish culture and lifestyle.
A very good read by the way
I wonder if this BBC program was inspired by the book, or if the British, these days, feel they need to be something other than what they are?
I'm Brit by birth, I have spent about half my life living and working in the U.K. But I do have the feeling that the country, perhaps, feels it has lost some of it's 'identity' in the last 30 years or so?
Any thoughts from our Brit contributors?
For what it's worth.
My thoughts on the North American worker:
A lot of emphasis is put on the # of Hours worked, not what is achieved!
Lots of pseudo meetings around the water cooler.
Emphasis is on personal advancement, with little loyalty to the employer.
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Originally Posted By: expat
Emphasis is on personal advancement, with little loyalty to the employer.
Thats a two way street. The days of the gold watch are for the most part long gone, most employers in the US could care less about their employees.
Its all $$$$ and when the slaves tire or burn out they get thrown out with the other trash.
I don't know about GB but German employers for the most part treat their employees like an valuable asset.
Emphasis is on personal advancement, with little loyalty to the employer.
Thats a two way street. The days of the gold watch are for the most part long gone, most employers in the US could care less about their employees.
Its all $$$$ and when the slaves tire or burn out they get thrown out with the other trash.
I don't know about GB but German employers for the most part treat their employees like an valuable asset.
Originally Posted By: Trav
Thats a two way street. The days of the gold watch are for the most part long gone, most employers in the US could care less about their employees.
Its all $$$$ and when the slaves tire or burn out they get thrown out with the other trash.
I don't know about GB but German employers for the most part treat their employees like an valuable asset.
Yup, and firing loyal experienced and well paid workers in order to hire brand new college graduates at less than half the salary is common practice in many businesses.
Thats a two way street. The days of the gold watch are for the most part long gone, most employers in the US could care less about their employees.
Its all $$$$ and when the slaves tire or burn out they get thrown out with the other trash.
I don't know about GB but German employers for the most part treat their employees like an valuable asset.
Yup, and firing loyal experienced and well paid workers in order to hire brand new college graduates at less than half the salary is common practice in many businesses.
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