Aussie workers considered "rude"

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AUSTRALIANS doing business abroad better watch what they say, after a survey found Americans and British colleagues think we're rude.

Australians working overseas are most likely to offend in the US and the UK, according to an international workplace survey which found Britain and America have the strictest office etiquette.

In fact, workers in the US and UK are more sensitive even than business colleagues from etiquette-conscious Japan, China or the Middle East.

English and American business people were more offended by colleagues who use speakerphones, swearing and not being offered a drink than their international counterparts.

They also hate the distraction of personal guests visiting the workplace.

No "good morning" from colleagues when they start the day was also considered offensive, the survey found.

According to the survey of business people in 13 countries, the top five business pet peeves are: people who arrive at work without greeting their workmates, not offering office guests a drink, speaking too loudly across a room, swearing and using speakerphone.

There's also a bit about prying into the personal lives of co-workers, which reminded me greatly of an episode of King of the Hill.

I'm not surprised about the swearing, we Aussies are pretty liberal when it comes to profanity though not in all environments and I've never worked in a job where every second word out of mouths was an expletive, even if we were joking out the back or in the lunchroom about notoriously difficult customers. Comedian Arj Barker had a great bit about swearing in Australia though ("Just take a fucking right, fucking, go a couple of blocks then you take a fucking left, then fucking, another right then fucking go left at the fucking lights. You can't miss the cunt." / "Well thank you, officer"). I am surprised about the problems with not greeting co-workers as again, I've never worked anywhere where you didn't say hi or good morning to people when you arrived. I guess there's something to be taken from the surveys but I guess it's just a culture clash. For example, I've always called my bosses by their first name (even my father when I worked for him for a while) because that's what they've asked to be addressed by.

My gym teacher in high school was Australian and he was pretty much the biggest ass hat I've ever met.

My gym teacher in high school was Australian and he was pretty much the biggest ass hat I've ever met.

Well, All the Aussies i met in person were huge assholes. Andrew is pretty much the only Aussie that i met that isn't a fucking cunt to other people. Lol. One Aussie threatened to kill my family. That guy 10 minutes later turned himself in. I completely LOLed at that. But i know that Aussies are not always mean. They are just mean to my family for some odd reason. Is it because we are a mix of Indian/Guatemalan/Mexican? LOL!

Chopper Reid is like the kindest Aussie evar

Bullshit. Fucking uptight Brits and Yanks. Good morning, fuckers. I must be considered offensive. I only greet co-workers if we make eye contact, and I swear pretty often, with Fucker, Son of a Bitch, and God Damnit used most often. There is no reason to interrupt somebody who is concentrating on working to say "Good morning, would you like some wine?"

I agree on the speakerphone issue, though. Not that it is the person's fault, it's just annoying hearing that loud-ass, horrible quality speaker from 30 feet away.

I've met two Aussies and one was cool, and the other was whiny and emotional, but cool when he wasn't being whiny and emotional.

I've met two Aussies and one was cool, and the other was whiny and emotional, but cool when he wasn't being whiny and emotional.

what, when he was drinking?

I work with mostly Aussies in a professional firm....guys aren't too bad, but girls are pretty rude & obnoxious for the most part....

I've only met two Aussies in my life, they were exchange students in France and they were really cool dudes. They sure liked their beer to keep flowing...
That's a bullshit study, you can find pricks in any country.

Yeah, or smoking, or dropping tabs or doing X.

The speakerphone issue is definitely rude, no question about that. I have to believe that people of other nationalities do that though and have other annoying/rude habits. It's hard to imagine a large company where absolutely everyone gets along and don't annoy each other occasionally.

I've only met two Aussies in my life, they were exchange students in France and they were really cool dudes. They sure liked their beer to keep flowing... .

Australian business people were more laid-back when it comes to office behaviour, but did say they were offended by colleagues who don't offer them a drink upon arrival or forget to buy them a drink.

At least the study is somewhat spot on.

It's the unpardonable sin; all else is forgivable but there's no excuse for skipping your turn to pay for the round.