I'm based in Australia, while i regularly work with teams from the US.
I've found my US counterparts are extremely bad at using their time efficiently and productively, even though, they are intelligent, knowledgeable and easy going (hands down, some of the best problem solvers i've ever worked with).
I was asked to work late once (due to time differences), and they were shocked when i said "i'm only available during working hours". They took it as a slight, or that i was being rude. I was even called "lazy".
It wasn't until i had an "offline" conversation with some of them that we both got the opportunity to discuss each others points of views.
My US counterparts admitted that one of their main reasons for not saying "no", was Health Care, or the risk of losing health care if you lost your job.
I think this (no fault to my US colleagues, i would probably feel/think the same way), results in bad work practices being perpetuated, resulting in unnecessary work hours, or, at least the perception that its required in order for you to be seen to be "doing a good job".
There's working longer when there's actual work that needs doing, but then there is working longer because your being held hostage to a job because your petrified of getting sick without one.
Case in point, one of my US colleagues was working 2 days after having heart bypass surgery. TWO DAYS!!!!
I'm based in Australia, while i regularly work with teams from the US.
I've found my US counterparts are extremely bad at using their time efficiently and productively, even though, they are intelligent, knowledgeable and easy going (hands down, some of the best problem solvers i've ever worked with).
I was asked to work late once (due to time differences), and they were shocked when i said "i'm only available during working hours". They took it as a slight, or that i was being rude. I was even called "lazy".
It wasn't until i had an "offline" conversation with some of them that we both got the opportunity to discuss each others points of views.
My US counterparts admitted that one of their main reasons for not saying "no", was Health Care, or the risk of losing health care if you lost your job.
I think this (no fault to my US colleagues, i would probably feel/think the same way), results in bad work practices being perpetuated, resulting in unnecessary work hours, or, at least the perception that its required in order for you to be seen to be "doing a good job".
There's working longer when there's actual work that needs doing, but then there is working longer because your being held hostage to a job because your petrified of getting sick without one.
Case in point, one of my US colleagues was working 2 days after having heart bypass surgery. TWO DAYS!!!!