If you’re an expat dreaming of a coastal lifestyle but still needing to work abroad, you’ve probably wondered about the work culture of Croatia and what it’s actually like. As someone with plenty of expat friends who now work in this part of Europe, I can tell you they enjoy a fantastic quality of life without sacrificing meaningful work.
It’s just that Croatia seems to have found that sweet spot between having a productive employment culture and a deeply relaxing way of life outside working hours. And let’s be real: Not all countries can achieve this!
According to my friends, the workdays in Croatia feel faster thanks to long lunch breaks often spent at home with family, later dinner times, and a generally slower pace. But, of course, they still need to hit deadlines when needed! So, if you’re looking to build a fulfilling career where you can actually “live” more, then this place is a solid choice.
But wait!
If you’ve ever found yourself Googling terms like “digital nomad Croatia” or “moving to Croatia for work,” it probably means you’re enticed by the tempting work culture and lifestyle. Well, I’m here to give you the inside scoop from expats living it firsthand. Read on to discover the real deets on work culture and some useful Croatian phrases.
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Business Culture In Croatia
When it comes to the business culture of Croatia specifically, there are some key things you should know as an expat. Now, my friends admit they were a bit surprised by some aspects once they dived into the workforce there. But actually, understanding a few cultural preferences ahead of time helps avoid any embarrassing mix-ups!
For starters, Croatians take punctuality pretty seriously. If a meeting is supposed to start at 9 AM sharp, you better believe everyone will be there by 8:55 AM at the latest, maybe even earlier. And no one will bat an eye about getting straight to business once the clock strikes 9.
Also, while Croatians tend to have a great sense of humor chatting with friends, funny business is mostly left outside of workplace conversations. Keeping things formal and professional is valued more highly. Though I have heard the occasional wisecrack slip out during coffee breaks!
Now, Croatians absolutely aim to build strong, loyal relationships with business partners. But that familiarity and warmth develop gradually over multiple interactions. So even if you hit it off personally right away, resist the urge to get overly casual on the first meet. Observe formal titles and communication styles unless prompted otherwise.
Finally, while gift-giving between associates isn’t necessarily expected, small token presents from your homeland are always a nice gesture once the partnership is more established. Just don’t overdo it on lavish gifts early on since that could come off as misinterpreted bribery.
Work Culture Of Croatia
Work-Life Balance
When it comes to work-life balance, Croatia has some major perks compared to other countries. Official full-time roles come out to 40 hours per week, with your standard 8-hour workday padded by a generous 30-minute lunch break. Now, whether you start bright and early or keep vampire hours depends a bit on your industry. Government and corporate gigs tend to begin sooner compared to more creative roles.
But across the board, expect things to literally slow down midday thanks to something locals call “fjaka.” Essentially, it translates to laziness or doing sweet nothing during the hottest part of the afternoon. Traditionally, locals would chill out with family, enjoy long lunches, and save outdoor tasks for the cooling evenings.
Besides reasonable working hours, Croatia also provides stellar work-sanctioned vacation time (plus Roman Catholic holidays). Every employee is entitled to four full weeks of paid annual leave. Now that’s something worth toasting with rakija!
Pace And Style
When it comes to the pace and style of work, Croatia has a decidedly more relaxed vibe than you might find in the major global hubs. The overall work pace tends to be slower yet still focused during actual business hours. Precision and punctuality are absolutely valued, but there’s generally less urgency behind each task or deadline.
To give you a sense of the pace – rushing around from meeting to meeting with barely time to scarf down a protein bar simply isn’t normal here! Instead, most agendas allow breathing room of 5-10 minutes between appointments or calls. This gives everyone time to properly wrap up previous discussions so you can then be fully present for the next.
There’s also more flexibility when it comes to revising schedules in their calendars if needed. While people still expect thorough preparation and timeliness, you likely won’t get reprimanded if a last-minute conflict arises or a minor delay pops up. Basically, people cut each other some slack so long as it’s not habitual.
The management style also tends to be less top-down dictations compared to western corporate culture. Bosses entrust staff to take responsibility over their own work. In turn, employees feel invested in overall team success with less micromanaging required. Promotions also happen more organically based on merit rather than rigid career tracks.
Social Customs
When it comes to social customs, Croatia may catch some expats off guard at first. But going with the flow and getting to know your colleagues personally is an integral part of success here.
For starters, actual socializing during work hours is totally normal and encouraged. We’re talking leisurely lunches together, afternoon coffee breaks filled with jokes and chatter, after conference cocktails mixing business with pleasure. Basically “all work and no play” is less of the motto in Croatia compared to America.
Bringing homemade goodies like pastries or savory snacks to share is also common practice. Showing your personal flair, whether baking or buying, goes a long way. But don’t be offended if co-workers casually dig in while working rather than gushing formal thank yous. Trust me, Croatian food is meant to be enjoyed here!
Croatian Business People Etiquette
Initial Meetings
Small talk prior to getting down to business is common. While Croatians want to establish a relationship with business partners, initial meetings still maintain a fairly formal tone as the relationship develops slowly over time.
Appointments are generally scheduled 1-2 weeks in advance, and it’s important to arrive promptly at the agreed time. Jumping straight to business immediately can be seen as rude.
Meetings And Greetings
Stand when being introduced in business settings. You should always be ready with a firm handshake, with good, direct eye contact and a smile. Using appropriate formal titles shows respect.
While volumes are generally soft-spoken, Croatians tend to talk in a serious manner about business topics initially. Raise your voice or gesticulate too wildly, and you risk seeming aggressive.
Communication Style
Croatians prefer to reach decisions slowly after much discussion. They dislike hard selling or overly persistent approaches during negotiations. Presentations should also go from the general concepts first before getting into specifics. Jumping straight into detail can confuse or frustrate Croatian partners trying to grasp the context.
Business Meals
If invited to dine while negotiating or after sealing a deal, know that breakfast and lunch schedules are generally short while dinners run long, often with alcohol. Don’t rush!
Relationship Building
Focus first on developing trust between partners rather than swift deal-making. Croatians prefer working with those they know and like on a personal basis. In terms of gift giving, small tokens from your home country are often exchanged once trust is built.
Easy Croatian Words For Work
While it’s entirely possible to get by solely in English when working in Croatia, putting in effort to learn a little bit of handy Croatian can help you win major brownie points with local colleagues and business partners.
And what is the best way to engage in Croatian conversations than learning with a language app? Ling provides lessons with audio and visual guides. It also includes cultural notes that will help you learn the ins and outs of Croatian society. Check it out at the Play Store or App Store now!
Now that you have a handy app to help you memorize these words, here are some of what you need to know!
Formal Greetings
- Dobar dan = Good morning /day
- Dobra večer = Good evening
- Laku noć = Good night
Handy Terms
- Ured = Office
- Sastanak = Meeting
- Projekt = Project
- Rok = Deadline
- Pauza = Break
- Ugovor = Contract
Polite Phrases
- Hvala = Thank you
- Izvini(te) = Excuse me / Sorry
- Mogu li vam pomoći? = May I help you?
- Molim vas = Please
- Nema na čemu = You’re welcome
See, that wasn’t so painful! Once you nail down those essentials, picking up more Croatian will feel less intimidating.
Ace Your Next Business Meeting With Ling
At the end of the day, understanding Croatia’s unique blend of an easygoing lifestyle and a hardworking business mindset is the key to success, no matter your sector or specialty. But who has time to earn a PhD in Intercultural Studies before landing abroad, am I right?
That’s where the Ling app comes in to save your first impression. Ling offers snappy audio and conversational lessons to build language and cultural skills in smaller bites – perfect to cram on the plane or prep over morning coffee instead of combing dense textbooks. Give Ling a try now!
