Finland: Appointment Alert!
From ExecutivePlanet.com
Appointment Alert!
Finns are very punctual and expect the same of foreigners. Traffic is usually rather dependable, so you can’t use that as an excuse for being late. In case you are late (for a very good reason), call or send an sms apologizing and giving the time when you’ll be there.
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Office hours are between 09.00-16.00 and all appointments made in between are ok.
In offices people have lunch at different times between 11.00-13.00. In some places a one-hour lunch break is the norm, but in offices it is much shorter.
There are very short introductions (just a few sentences at most) with a cup of coffee and then straight down to business. If a meeting is scheduled for one hour, it usually ends after one hour as someone says that he/she has to go to another meeting or somewhere else. There is no ritual like a handshake to formally end a meeting, but sometimes hands are shaken when foreigners are present or deals are made.
July and August are the best summer months and practically everyone is on vacation in July. Nothing much gets done then.
Finland's regular working week is 37,5 hours long. Workers in Finland cannot be required to work overtime without their consent. Finns earn four to five weeks of paid vacation each year.
