5 Obstacles Expats Face in a Chinese Workplace

This article is by Andrea Scarlatelli and does not necessarily reflect the views of eChinaCities.

Besides the giant cultural shift you have to cope with when moving to China, there seems to be a whole other set of obstacles to maneuver when settling down in the workplace. While offices in China are, in many ways, similar to their Western counterparts, it is precisely the subtle differences that seem to really trip people up.

It is important to remember that while Westerners may find some behaviors off-putting, these cultural workplace norms are a way of life for the Chinese. As expats, it is our responsibility to adapt as best we can to our adopted country. The workplace obstacles listed below hopefully shed light on the issues some may face when adjusting to the Chinese workplace.

More awareness means more opportunities to prepare, resulting in an easier transition for everyone. Feel free to post other obstacles you've encountered in the comments section below!

1) Communication

While "communication" can obviously refer to the, "I don't speak Mandarin and you don't speak [insert native language here]" issue, what I'm talking about is the art of transferring an idea from one person to another. I'm not even going to get into the whole issue of "face" because, frankly, I feel that is a concept that has been talked about at length before. So instead, I will go into the idea of confrontation, something most Chinese workers avoid.

Not knowing the answer to your question; thinking you won't like their answer; not wanting to admit they haven't done something they were supposed to do – these are just a few instances where a direct answer in a Chinese office is unlikely. Yes, it may take you five times as long to figure out what is expected of you or how a project is coming along, but that's just the way it is. My advice: don't fight it, adapt.

2) Office socializing

Depending on the type of industry you work in (and ususally whether or not you are male), office "socializing" can come as a bit of a shock to many first time expat workers here. China promotes a heavy drinking culture in the name of work relations. A deal cannot be forged, a contract cannot be signed, an agreement cannot be made without first engaging in a few dozen rounds of "ganbei!" This often results in a fabulous, rowdy banquet where men (and increasingly women) are clinking wine, beer, and baijiu glasses while loudly toasting everyone in the room.

If it's a really important deal or there happens to be a large majority of males involved, these social occasions can also result in the ultimate "boys' club" meeting at KTV, which consists (according to my male friends who have gone for just such a purpose) of each man selecting a woman from a lineup that is paraded in front of them. The men then no longer talk to each other but instead drink and sing with their new "friends." But after the night is over, a business deal is bound to emerge. The trust that is built between potential clients during these events serves as a foundation for all future business negotiations.

3) Understanding the law

In the West, it's a general given a worker has certain rights and resources at their disposal. If your manager is sexually harassing you, for example, there are people to whom you can report it. Or if you're suddenly fired, there is a channel through which you can lodge an appeal. That's bascially the whole reason the Human Resources departments exist. In China, however, you'd be hard pressed to find an expat office worker who even knows if a Human Resources department for their company exists.

Additionally, most expats have no idea what their rights are – or if, indeed, they even have any. With all the recent news of "crackdowns" on expats' rights as residents and workers within the country, it has become more important than ever to know and understand the laws pertaining to your particular circumstances in China. Obviously always be sure to personally monitor everything you have direct access to, such as making sure your Visa is legitimate and your work contract is valid.

4) The buddy system/face jobs

This largely depends on what type of office you are employed in – for example, I've heard of this happening to salespeople but not so much to, say, magazine editors. It is well known that some companies will hire foreign workers to make their business and themselves look good. But in some cases, that seems to be all the foreigner is good for. It proves to be a double-edged sword: Many Chinese people want to do business with a company that employs a foreigner, but they'll only actually strike a deal with a Chinese person. This often results in a foreigner being the "face" of the deal, but he or she will always need a Chinese "buddy" to come along to actually handle the transaction.

5) Workplace as home

The "workplace experience" is often very different in China than in Western countries. In China, co-workers will spend a lot of time together. Some even live together in dormitories instead of commuting back and forth each day, and many have known each other since school. This all contributes to an often unusually close-knit group of people.

As an expat, chances are you will also be expected to share in the long hours (I've had friends who've had to stay at the office until 21:00 or 22:00, despite having no more work to do for the day, simply because everyone was expected to all leave together). There is also often extracurricular activities planned for employees. This can cause a huge strain on an expat's family, as husbands, wives, and/or children are suddenly forced to be moved to the backburner because of office expectations. Therefore, it is important to establish your work/home boundaries as early and as firmly as possible.

Depending on your job, you may encounter none, a few, or all of these obstacles in your journey through the Chinese workplace – or some completely different problems unique to your office. Regardless, it is important to remember that despite the differences, your coworkers are there to do their job, just as you are.

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