Problems for a young german in USA

[PatrickT]

Well its the reason i joined this site and i dont even know if this is the right part of the forum to talk about it but...


Well in short, my employer is a german corporation tha recently did buy an american engineering competitor. Their HQ is based in Alabama. I was part of a 6 men group responsible to integrate their enterprise into our system.

I was send there and lived there 5 weeks and i must say the results are not that good. There are many points that bother me and i would like to talk about that with people who are from there.

I did not feel that happy over there and felt excluded for various reasons. It is located in a relative small town and it seems most know each other there. The basic opinion about us is negative. Most of the employee there work there since many years and some since decades. I guess it is hard for them too see all this change in a short time amd even more so because i'm very young. There was some serious friction going on between me and one employee who dismissed my plans in public and basicly sabotaged our ideas. He was fired later on but that did not work that good with the others.

Another point are the cultural differences and they are colossal. We dont allow US flags at workplace. The working time is managed different now as well. It seems most worked their daily hours but left mid day to return at evening and so on. We introduced our model that you come at morning and work your 8h with fix breaks. As i said before i was glad when i could go back home. I felt pretty isolated over there and honestly i dont know how to improve things. If evrything goes alright i'll be send ther again in september and i hope i can improve things. i dont know but ,ayne its many aspects that lead to this not so nice behavior. :/

 

[EazyMack]

Well, I hate to stereotype, but...

Alabama is sort of known for bigotry. Has a history of preferring "its own kind." Definitely not known for diversity.

Also, it's normal in most lines of work for people to work their 8-hour shifts and then go home, so I'm not sure what the trouble is there.

However, I don't understand the reasoning behind not allowing U.S. flags. A U.S. flag should be allowed anywhere in the U.S. lol.

Aside from that, I can see how it would be possible for your experience to turn out the way it did. If you ever get a chance, visit the more diverse areas of the U.S.!

 

[PatrickT]

Well, I hate to stereotype, but...

Alabama is sort of known for bigotry. Has a history of preferring "its own kind." Definitely not known for diversity.

Also, it's normal in most lines of work for people to work their 8-hour shifts and then go home, so I'm not sure what the trouble is there.

However, I don't understand the reasoning behind not allowing U.S. flags. A U.S. flag should be allowed anywhere in the U.S. lol.

Aside from that, I can see how it would be possible for your experience to turn out the way it did. If you ever get a chance, visit the more diverse areas of the U.S.!

Oh i know the USA and visited several cities. Atlanta, San Francisco, New York and Seattle. I like it and its a nice holiday destination. Alabama was basicly a business trip and i wonder how i personal can achieve the implementation of their corporation into ours. I´m not quite sure yet whats the problem.

As for the flags, its a policy that no flags should hang around, since its a business place and not a stadium. No hard feelings regarding that.

 

[NewUser777]

Well in short, my employer is a german corporation tha recently did buy an american engineering competitor. Their HQ is based in Alabama. I was part of a 6 men group responsible to integrate their enterprise into our system.

I was send there and lived there 5 weeks and i must say the results are not that good. There are many points that bother me and i would like to talk about that with people who are from there.

I did not feel that happy over there and felt excluded for various reasons. It is located in a relative small town and it seems most know each other there. The basic opinion about us is negative. Most of the employee there work there since many years and some since decades. I guess it is hard for them too see all this change in a short time amd even more so because i'm very young. There was some serious friction going on between me and one employee who dismissed my plans in public and basicly sabotaged our ideas. He was fired later on but that did not work that good with the others.

Well, like the last poster said, it's Alabama. They are not going to accept foreigners as well as people from other states would. They are a southern state that is set in it's ways for the most part.

Also, there is a lot of friction right now in the job force of America because we are seeing more and more jobs go to foreign countries with outsourcing, take-overs, etc. The attitude you experienced does not surprise me. Those people have no idea what you are going to do with them. They have no idea if they will be laid off or not, and it doesn't matter what your corporate office says. They are now uncertain of their future and that never stimulates good feelings.

I really don't know how to help you here, you are in a bad situation having to deal with this. I would just say be honest and open with them. They will appreciate that and at least grudgingly respect you.

Use Christ's example in dealing with them and don't return harsh words for harsh words.

 

[PatrickT]

Well, like the last poster said, it's Alabama. They are not going to accept foreigners as well as people from other states would. They are a southern state that is set in it's ways for the most part.

Also, there is a lot of friction right now in the job force of America because we are seeing more and more jobs go to foreign countries with outsourcing, take-overs, etc. The attitude you experienced does not surprise me. Those people have no idea what you are going to do with them. They have no idea if they will be laid off or not, and it doesn't matter what your corporate office says. They are now uncertain of their future and that never stimulates good feelings.

I really don't know how to help you here, you are in a bad situation having to deal with this. I would just say be honest and open with them. They will appreciate that and at least grudgingly respect you.

Use Christ's example in dealing with them and don't return harsh words for harsh words.

Well it is a take iver for sure but in that case i think we provide them with stability, at least in my opinion. I think one problem for some is not only cultural but also that i'm so young. In germany we give oders pretty straight forward and not sugar coated. I assume some have a problem with that. When you are 45-55 years old and suddenly get orders from a guy who is in his early 20th i assume that can be a problem.

And dont worry. I never use harsh words.

 

[NewUser777]

I think one problem for some is not only cultural but also that i'm so young. In germany we give oders pretty straight forward and not sugar coated. I assume some have a problem with that. When you are 45-55 years old and suddenly get orders from a guy who is in his early 20th i assume that can be a problem.

Yes, I agree. In America, we like things sugar-coated. Even the men, who will tell you they don't need it sugar-coated, will get offended if you say something too direct to them.

Also, the age difference. It's a pride thing. We're only human.

 

[Cearbhall]

As for the flags, its a policy that no flags should hang around, since its a business place and not a stadium. No hard feelings regarding that.

Ah. That's interesting. I've never heard of that before.

 

[PatrickT]

Ah. That's interesting. I've never heard of that before.

I think the basic principle behind it is that they create tension and discord between the employee. This is a german corporation now. The german officials have no connection to this flag, the workers have" With this you create division.

 

[jacks]

You've gotten some very good replies. You are in an awkward situation with no clear direction. Prayer and trusting on the Lord will do wonders in solving many problems. Remember you can only do so much and can't control the situation. Both companies will have to learn to compromise if it is to work out. Perhaps trying to imagine the situation being reversed (That is your company is bought out and now a group from Alabama have come to "integrate" you.) perhaps this can also help you understand how they feel and how you might approach them.

I pray it all works out well.

 

[EazyMack]

Sounds like you have a tough job!

There is definitely the "earning-your-stripes" factor, which comes with age & experience. There's really no shortcut to it.

But, if that's your job, you just have to do your job. If someone doesn't like the direction their company is going in, they will start to look elsewhere. And rightfully so.

 

[Cearbhall]

I think the basic principle behind it is that they create tension and discord between the employee. This is a german corporation now. The german officials have no connection to this flag, the workers have" With this you create division.

Yeah, I suppose it makes sense if it's a foreign-owned business.