Working Abroad Versus Working In Beirut: Which One Wins?

If you’ve ever worked abroad for some time and then came home to settle down (like a huge chunk of the Lebanese diaspora), you probably know the struggle of adapting to the Lebanese office life. The way things used to work in your European or Emirati office is nothing like what you will be facing once you step in to a Lebanese workplace.

To welcome you back, here are some things you can expect if you’re making the move back:

Note: This list is just for entertainment, and is not an accurate depiction of all Lebanese workplaces.

Starting with the job interview:

Abroad: Where did you last work? Do you have any experience in project management or digital marketing?

In Lebanon: Where are you from? Do you have children or expect to have kids anytime soon?

The commute to and from work:

Abroad: Taking any form of public transportation with other citizens and arriving peacefully and promptly.

In Lebanon: Taking your own car, screaming at your compatriots while on the road, then arriving stressed-out and almost always late to the office.

The job description:

Abroad: You actually sign a contract and know exactly what your responsibilities and objectives will be.

In Lebanon: It will remain a mystery during your entire employment; you might have been recruited as communications officer, but you end up doing a bit of everything. Isn’t that what they call multi-tasking?

The Human Resources Department:

Abroad: They’ve got the employees’ back and they’re there to essentially protect you from sexual harassment and abuse.

In Lebanon: They got the employer’s back and they’re there to essentially fire the hell out of you.

The boss:

Abroad: You’re on a first name basis with the boss, and they’re there to coach and motivate the team.

In Lebanon: They’re an obscure specie or royalty, and if they’re ever at the office it’s to give orders, yell at the team, and make sure everyone works overtime.

The dress code:

Abroad: The complete opposite of the below.

In Lebanon: Full make-up, hair done, nails done, and dressed to the nines.

The email etiquette:

Abroad: All employees communicate via email, it gives a solid professional feel to things and keeps misunderstandings at bay.

In Lebanon: It’s your fault you didn’t follow-up orally with the other person because, guess what? They deleted it: reading and replying to emails is a true waste of time.

The meetings:

Abroad: The team arrives a little while ahead of the meeting, talks about the latest trends in the industry, then sends minutes of meeting afterwards.

In Lebanon: The team arrives late, discusses trends and dislikes, decide what to have for lunch, continues their discussion on WhatsApp.

The lunchbreak:

Abroad: Eating at the company’s canteen or going out for a stroll in the green gardens nearby, coming back to the office energized.

In Lebanon: Ordering in and ending up with a huge table of Lebanese mezze which will take the whole afternoon to finish, work can wait.

The vacations:

Abroad: Your employer actually encourages you to take a long, well-deserved vacation.