India: Insight into working life

Indian business practice is firmly rooted in the country’s cultural heritage in many respects. Yet flexibility is key, as business culture is fast adapting to outside influences.

The working day

Normal office hours in India are 10am to 5pm, although there is a trend towards a longer working day. (Possibly starting at around 7.30am and ending at 8pm.) Lunch breaks of one hour are normally taken between midday and 2pm.

Lunch and breakfast meetings are increasingly common; be mindful of dietary requirements when arranging meetings and book dining establishments that offer plenty of vegetable-only options. Credit cards are widely accepted, and expect to pay tips in hotels and restaurants.

Business culture

‘Indians can negotiate well, so be prepared,’ advises Pricoa Relocation Intercultural Trainer, Sunit Jilla. ‘Also, carry a lot of business cards with you. Timekeeping is often not generally a priority, so remember to have patience when people are not punctual. Another important point to bear in mind is that meeting agendas may not always be followed, so be prepared to provide for extra time.’

Indian business culture is hierarchical. General practice is that only last names are used in front of superiors in a business setting. (First names tend to be used only by close friends, family members or someone older or an authority.)

Using prefixes such as Mr, Mrs and Miss or the professional title of the person is also advisable.

Be guided by the person you are addressing; they may want to relax these rules.

What to wear

Indian business attire is casual, but neat, neutral and conservative.

For men, trousers and short-sleeved shirts (sometimes with a tie) are worn on a day-to-day basis. Suit jackets are added for more formal purposes.

For women, casual dresses and trouser suits are the norm. Dressing on the side of caution is recommended; above-the-knee skirts or sleeveless shirts are generally unacceptable.

This is an edited extract reproduced with thanks from Pricoa Relocation’s India: The new frontier – a guide to successful relocation. With thanks also to Sunit Jilla.

More Information

Pricoa Relocation has put together some complimentary information to help you navigate the cultural dynamics of doing business in India - click here for your free copy.

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