The offices I have worked in were very austere and the furniture pre-ergonomic. The desks were not adjustable heights, no adjustable keyboards, lighting is harsh overhead fluorescent without adjustments, and many chairs are so uncomfortable that in long meetings you are guaranteed a back ache.
We just finished doing a workshop where the chairs we had were plastic molded type with the swing arm writing surfaces, reminescent of high school. Trying sitting in those for 2 days!
Even the 5 star hotels I have stayed in preferred furniture that looks good rather than fits good.
Smoking
Italians still smoke in total disregard to the health issues. I have seen very few advertisements warning about the dangers of smoking and it doesn't seem to be a priority at all in this culture. In many restaurants and public places they are not supposed to smoke, however they stand at an open door or window and smoke, and then all the smoke drifts back into the building anyway. Coming through a door there is a cloud of smoke where a dozen people are gathered around smoking. It is pretty obnoxious and in general, there is little respect for the non-smoker's comfort.
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| Vending machine in case the Tabacchi shop is closed and you need cigarettes |
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| All the popular brands |
Loosing Electricitiy
We have had numerous problems with electricity in our villa. Many of the issues had to do with the problems with the wiring in the house itself, which was cobbled together by 'shade tree' electricians and is an impossible mass of wiring running in hundreds of directions.
In addition to problems with the wiring in the house itself, we are limited to 6 kw per house (most Italian homes only have 3 kw). When you hit that, the breaker at the road kicks and everything goes dark. This has happened to me several times. Recently I have figured out we can't turn on the heat pumps and the microwave oven at the same time. Sometimes it is the oven and the microwave, or the washer and the heat pumps, etc. In other words, it is a dice roll what you can turn on at the same time.
Multi-tasking, Phone etiquette and Voicemail
I am in a work environment where voicemail is standard and expected. If you don't reach someone, you leave a message. In Italy, the business culture doesn't do that. Many have voicemail capability but never use it or even set it up. Instead they call and call and call. Sometimes they will call you right back and keep calling. It is quite annoying to see four calls in a row from someone and they didn't leave a message. Obviously if I could answer the phone, I would. Not sure what is the thinking about this. I have challenged a few people when they say "I called you but you didn't answer". I say really, "Did you leave a message?" They get a very guilty looking grin on their faces. So I am beginning to believe it is part of the game that is played to make people feel very important that you have to call them multiple times to reach them.
The other annoying thing is the status of getting cell phone calls in a meeting. I have been in many meetings where the Italians sit at the table and answer calls and sit there talking, right in the middle of the meeting. They don't silence their phones, they don't get up and leave the meeting to have a private conversation either. It is clearly a powerplay that says "I am so important I get many calls and those calls take priority of you and this meeting". It is not just working meetings either, it is in Executive reviews with the CEO and VP; they all do the same thing. Finally the US VP told them to get up and leave the meeting, and they do, but they still make a big show of letting the phone ring loudly, and answering, and then getting up to slowly leave the room.
We have had numerous problems with electricity in our villa. Many of the issues had to do with the problems with the wiring in the house itself, which was cobbled together by 'shade tree' electricians and is an impossible mass of wiring running in hundreds of directions.
In addition to problems with the wiring in the house itself, we are limited to 6 kw per house (most Italian homes only have 3 kw). When you hit that, the breaker at the road kicks and everything goes dark. This has happened to me several times. Recently I have figured out we can't turn on the heat pumps and the microwave oven at the same time. Sometimes it is the oven and the microwave, or the washer and the heat pumps, etc. In other words, it is a dice roll what you can turn on at the same time.
Multi-tasking, Phone etiquette and Voicemail
I am in a work environment where voicemail is standard and expected. If you don't reach someone, you leave a message. In Italy, the business culture doesn't do that. Many have voicemail capability but never use it or even set it up. Instead they call and call and call. Sometimes they will call you right back and keep calling. It is quite annoying to see four calls in a row from someone and they didn't leave a message. Obviously if I could answer the phone, I would. Not sure what is the thinking about this. I have challenged a few people when they say "I called you but you didn't answer". I say really, "Did you leave a message?" They get a very guilty looking grin on their faces. So I am beginning to believe it is part of the game that is played to make people feel very important that you have to call them multiple times to reach them.
The other annoying thing is the status of getting cell phone calls in a meeting. I have been in many meetings where the Italians sit at the table and answer calls and sit there talking, right in the middle of the meeting. They don't silence their phones, they don't get up and leave the meeting to have a private conversation either. It is clearly a powerplay that says "I am so important I get many calls and those calls take priority of you and this meeting". It is not just working meetings either, it is in Executive reviews with the CEO and VP; they all do the same thing. Finally the US VP told them to get up and leave the meeting, and they do, but they still make a big show of letting the phone ring loudly, and answering, and then getting up to slowly leave the room.
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