News | Servcorp

A survey of international business etiquette shows that Australians working abroad are found to be the most rude in the United States and the United Kingdom. Servcorp International Business Etiquette Index uncovered that those in the United States and the United Kingdom have the strictest workplace etiquette and are more easily offended by common business practices by Japan, China and the Middle East.
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Australian business people traveling abroad are more likely to offend while doing business in America and the UK than any other country, according to an international workplace survey released today. The Servcorp International Business Etiquette Index has uncovered that those in the United States and UK have the strictest workplace etiquette and are more easily offended by common business practices than Japan, China and the Middle East. "Offensive" behavior includes the use of the occasional swear word, not receiving a morning greeting and use of stationery items without permission. The study was commissioned to uncover the countries with the strictest business etiquettes and to reveal mistakes that Australian businessmen and professionals commonly make when doing business abroad.
http://www.wabusinessnews.com.au/en-story/1/69625/Aussie-business-people-too-rude-survey

Manners maketh the businessman, with a global survey finding Americans and Britons to be the most easily insulted by lack of workplace etiquette, while Australians are among the most offensive. The survey, by Australian-based international office space provider Servcorp, listed the top five most offensive workplace behaviors as not saying hello or good morning, not offering office guests a beverage, speaking loudly across the room, using swear words and taking calls on mobile phones. The use of stationery without permission and asking colleagues about their personal lives were also deemed insulting. The poll revealed that the US and UK to be the most sensitive nations in the world, despite 60% of respondents believing Japan has the strictest work etiquette.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/msid-3987156.cms

AUSTRALIAN business types are a rude bunch, according to a survey by Servcorp, which reckons a healthy/disgraceful (delete where applicable) 25 per cent of us are relaxed and comfortable with dropping rude words on the international business stage, compared with nearly zero per cent in the US and even in Britain, where Gordon Ramsay has possibly expended the national quota. Other mistakes we apparently make include speaking too loudly across the room, taking personal calls at work, and asking colleagues and business partners about their personal lives; sounds a bit like a newsroom to us.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24913186-25090,00.html

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. "Being aware of potentially offensive behaviour is a key factor to Australian business success abroad," said Taine Moufarrige, executive director of office company Servcorp, which conducted the survey in 13 countries.
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24912332-5012428,00.html

In this time of corporate doom and gloom, the StarCity Grand Harbour Ballroom was alive with a corporate success story! On 15 October 2008 Servcorp was crowned the winner of the NSW Export Awards Large Services category. Making the achievement even sweeter we managed to dethrone the traditional winner of the category in past years, Macquarie Bank. More than 650 people came to the event including ten Servcorp team members, the Premier of NSW, the Hon. Nathan Rees, The Minister for Small Business, the Hon. Tony Stewart and 100s of NSW business people. We received the award for our commitment to solid growth and success in a wide variety of overseas markets. The NSW Export Award made special note to the innovation of our products, services and in particular the IT infrastructure designed to provide our clients with a fully converged IT network and an online platform, HottdeskR. Taine Moufarrige, Executive Director commented “Servcorp is proud to be recognised! We do all this from Australia, with Australian people leading the way and it has been that way for 30 years. May it long continue!”

Servcorp and Tom Wallace have been proudly profiled as part of CFO Magazine’s “Cashed-up Heros” article (October 2008). Servcorp’s success has been underpinned by organic growth at a manageable rate with a clear strategy to minimise debt levels and maximise cash on hand for growth opportunities.