Doing Biz Abroad | business in the global marketplace

Behind boardroom doors

by Chris on April 21st, 2008

I’ve been reminded a lot recently that European males really have to be exceptionally careful when traveling to the US for business. Crime, perhaps? Or excessive shopping brought on by the abysmal dollar? No, although those may well be reasons for concern as well. European males have to be concerned about women or, more correctly, the way they treat women (or anybody for that matter).

Now, I’m not going to go on a screed about sexual harassment or discrimination, because that’s not really the point of this blog. What I will say is that males from overseas in a management position are practically begging for a lawsuit, and a fairly expensive one at that. Why is that? Well, for one, our rules make it easy to sue, and to get a copy of that e-mail in which the manager made a salacious remark about a female co-worker, so that “private” remark amongst trusted colleagues isn’t as private as they thought. More importantly, though, is that years of experience with discrimination laws have rendered certain behavior much less acceptable (and accepted) in the US than in many other parts of the world.

Now, I’m not saying that US males are progressive angels, or that they’re not thinking what foreign males are actually saying (or doing). Nor am I advocating the US legal system or its rules. What I am saying is that individuals from overseas who will be working with or managing personnel in the US really need to consider some sort of training to understand what is acceptable, and what will get the company sued for everything it’s worth.

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POSTED IN: Doing biz in the US