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<\/p>\nIf you\u2019ve 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. <\/p>\n
To welcome you back, here are some things you can expect if you\u2019re making the move back:<\/big> <\/p>\n
Note:<\/b> This list is just for entertainment, and is not an accurate depiction of all Lebanese workplaces.<\/p>\n
Starting with the job interview:<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Abroad:<\/b> Where did you last work? Do you have any experience in project management or digital marketing?<\/i><\/p>\n
In Lebanon:<\/b> Where are you from? Do you have children or expect to have kids anytime soon? <\/big><\/i><\/p>\n
The commute to and from work:<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
Abroad:<\/b> Taking any form of public transportation with other citizens and arriving peacefully and promptly.<\/p>\n
In Lebanon:<\/B> Taking your own car, screaming at your compatriots while on the road, then arriving stressed-out and almost always late to the office.<\/big><\/p>\n
The job description:<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
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Abroad:<\/b> You actually sign a contract and know exactly what your responsibilities and objectives will be.<\/p>\n
In Lebanon:<\/b> 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\u2019t that what they call multi-tasking?<\/big><\/p>\n
The Human Resources Department:<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
Abroad:<\/b> They\u2019ve got the employees\u2019 back and they\u2019re there to essentially protect you from sexual harassment and abuse.<\/p>\n
In Lebanon:<\/b> They got the employer\u2019s back and they\u2019re there to essentially fire the hell out of you. <\/big><\/p>\n
The boss:<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Abroad:<\/b> You\u2019re on a first name basis with the boss, and they\u2019re there to coach and motivate the team. <\/p>\n
In Lebanon:<\/b> They\u2019re an obscure specie or royalty, and if they\u2019re ever at the office it\u2019s to give orders, yell at the team, and make sure everyone works overtime.<\/big> <\/p>\n
The dress code:<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Abroad:<\/b> The complete opposite of the below.<\/p>\n
In Lebanon:<\/b> Full make-up, hair done, nails done, and dressed to the nines.<\/big><\/p>\n
The email etiquette:<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Abroad:<\/b> All employees communicate via email, it gives a solid professional feel to things and keeps misunderstandings at bay.<\/p>\n
In Lebanon:<\/b> It\u2019s your fault you didn\u2019t follow-up orally with the other person because, guess what? They deleted it: reading and replying to emails is a true waste of time.<\/big><\/p>\n
The meetings:<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
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Abroad:<\/b> The team arrives a little while ahead of the meeting, talks about the latest trends in the industry, then sends minutes of meeting afterwards.<\/p>\n
In Lebanon:<\/b> The team arrives late, discusses trends and dislikes, decide what to have for lunch, continues their discussion on WhatsApp.<\/big> <\/p>\n
The lunchbreak:<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
Abroad:<\/b> Eating at the company\u2019s canteen or going out for a stroll in the green gardens nearby, coming back to the office energized.<\/p>\n
In Lebanon:<\/b> Ordering in and ending up with a huge table of Lebanese mezze which will take the whole afternoon to finish, work can wait.<\/big><\/p>\n
The vacations:<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Abroad:<\/b> Your employer actually encourages you to take a long, well-deserved vacation.<\/p>\n
In Lebanon:<\/b> Your employer guilts you if you dare ask for some time off, even as short a one day. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":410151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_preview_accessed":0,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"media-embed-type":[],"class_list":["post-50369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"authorship":[125],"yoast_head":"\n