Doing Business in Russia

Business Etiquette

Russia continues to develop both politically and economically; we are going to analyze factors that contribute to business etiquette in Russia. These factors will include working hours, women in business, business meals, time and punctuality, greeting protocols and dress code (Shaposhnikov,2015).

Working hours in Russia; statistics confirm that Russia is first among other economically developing nations; the working hours in Russia depend on the nature of business. Government offices work from Monday to Friday and they report to work from 9am to 5pm. Government offices are closed on weekends and holidays. When it comes to private companies such as banks, reporting hours are from 9am to 12noon or from 1pm to 6pm.Working overtime is limited to people under the age of eighteen and above; therefore, pregnant women and people below the age of eighteen are not allowed to work overtime. Also, working overtime should not exceed four hours for two consecutive days.

Women and business in Russia; from the report, we find that Russia is leading when it comes to gender equality. This is because more women are known to hold senior positions in many organizations. This also indicates that women have embraced business and strive to maintain it by seeking higher positions. 45% of women in Russia occupy top female positions even in government. Also, the level of education among women in Russia is escalating, despite some social and cultural disparities (Kusznir, 2016).

Business meals in Russia; it is quite challenging to know the type of food to be offered when attending a business meeting in Russia. This is because, in most cases, meal cards are offered to those invited for a business meeting. However, their meals vary depending on the culture, and therefore it is important to stick to a comfortable meal, while trying to understand the culture. Most business meals involve socializing and networking.

Time and Punctuality; usually, Russians are very punctual. They keep time in every occasion; when it comes to attending business meetings, they are always on time. The same case applies to opening business hours where most business people in Russia are punctual; they know the importance of business and hence they do not waste time. On the other hand, patience is of essence when conducting a negotiation with Russians; this is because they believe in getting to know every detail about the business and hence they will keep you waiting for their response. It is therefore important to be patient when doing business with Russians.

Greeting protocols; Russians are known for their hospitality. Official greeting is a handshake, and this form of greeting encourages uniformity especially among people who are meeting for the first time. Also, greeting depends on culture and society expectations. For a visitor in Russia, they welcome them with a handshake as a sign of respect. However, there is a protocol to be observed especially when attending business meetings. Russians do not shake hands by the doorway, it is believed to be a bad luck and they might sue you (Zhuplev, 2016).

Dress code in Russia; dress code depends on the level of salary; men tend to wear suits or a jacket and a tie and office trousers and shoes. Women also wear suits or official skirt and a blouse. Russians like to be presentable and hence they will dress according to the occasion. When it comes to business meetings, Russians are in suits and they look very presentable. Men will shave their hair while women will make their hair neat. For the working class with high level of salary, you will find them ever on dark suits. During weekends and holidays, they wear casuals such as jeans, khaki, t-shirts, hats and sport shoes.

References

Kusznir, J. (2016). 6 Doing business in Russia. State Capture, Political Risks and International Business: Cases from Black Sea Region Countries , 89.

Shaposhnikov, s. (2015). Doing business in Russia.

Zhuplev, A. (2016). Doing Business in Russia, Volume II: A Concise Guide . Business Expert Press.