There are distinct differences between the work cultures of developed and developing countries and between Western and Eastern cultures. Being in a developing country with influences from both extremes makes the work culture of Telugu people in India quite unique.
Currently, our workforce is undergoing a transition and increasingly focusing on work-life balance, boundaries, professional advancement, and so on. So, today, we’re going to learn about Telugu work culture focusing on tradition, advancement, and its various influences. Buckle up.
Table of Contents
Understanding The Telugu Work Culture
Financial security, peer pressure, and retirement goals. These aspects have played a significant role in shaping the work culture of the Telugu people for a long time. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Financial Security
Achieving financial security is tremendously important for Telugu people because the majority belong to the lower-middle to middle class, which pushes people to make as much as possible and spend as little as possible. This is evident across all cultures in India, not just Telugu people.
If you look at the numbers, Telugu is one of the fastest-growing languages in the United States, as Telugu people are notorious for moving where there are good opportunities. And if you look at the spending habits of Indians, you’d see the majority trying to save as much as possible to send back to their families to buy properties and make investments. The quote, “saving for a rainy day,” resounds deeply within us all.
To achieve this, Telugu people must work diligently, which makes them put work above everything else.
Peer-Pressure
The majority of Telugu people know and believe in only a few professions: Engineering, Medical, and Civil (Government Jobs). In fact, Telugu states have the highest number of engineering colleges in India. Out of those many, a few are the primary choices. This leads to students competing for fewer seats in good institutions, making the competition cutthroat.
On top of that, it’s a matter of prestige and pride for parents when their child gets good grades, a well-paying job, and especially a career abroad, preferably in the US. So, they push their kids to extremes. This, coupled with the prospect of a free life, moves many to excel in their fields no matter what, so they must give 110% at their workplace and secure top positions, which again means dedicating more time and effort to work.
Retiring With A Government Pension
People on the opposite end of the spectrum, those who aren’t too ambitious to score big in life but want a peaceful 9-5, are plenty in the Telugu community. They use their career to achieve a comfortable retirement. And for that to happen, a well-paying government job without worries of layoff is the only choice.
But getting a government job is no small feat. There are reserves for people belonging to certain castes, making it harder for people in the general category to land a government job. This means they’ll have to study, work, and achieve more than others. All this for a quiet, well-settled life.
If you’re wondering how that life is, here’s how. A typical government employee doesn’t have to worry about layoffs, ever. Unless they are terminated for unlawful conduct, which is rare. They can get to their office late (which some are infamous for), have lunch, chat with colleagues, complete their tasks, and leave for home. And unlike other countries, India is known for having too many public holidays. Apart from weekends and paid leave, there are a ton of public holidays, paid half-days, etc.
This is a dream come true for many. A relaxed work culture with little to no worries and guaranteed retirement pay. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Now that we have learned about the work culture of Telugu people, let’s look at some facts.
Facts About The Work Culture Of Telugu People
This is how a typical Telugu person is in an office. There are always some outliers, but these are some of the most common traits.
1. Avoiding Confrontation And Respecting Elders
The majority of Telugu people are non-confrontational. And they are brought up with the idea that elders must always be respected. This trait makes them great team players and easy to work with. However, it sometimes leads to deference to senior employees and less direct communication, which is counterproductive. Only recently has this trend started to change.
2. Tea-Time Discussions
Telugu people love to discuss their politics and movies during tea breaks. If there’s one thing they can’t live without, it’s their tea-time discussions. These tea breaks are also crucial in building bonds between managers and employees. So, once you have learned to introduce yourself in Telugu, you can gradually but surely become a part of this banter.
3. Lunch With Colleagues
Having lunch with colleagues is another critical team-building activity. Not just having lunch but sharing one’s Telugu cuisine with everyone on the team. In a close-knit environment, everyone knows their teammate’s best dish and requests they bring it often. So, if your Telugu colleagues like your dish, bring more of it to work and share it. You’ll become their family member in no time!
4. Humor
If you are working closely with Telugu people, be prepared to try to joke with them. Due to the influence of Telugu media, movies, and also their light-hearted nature, Telugu people tend to find something funny in everything. After all, what’s there to life if not live and laugh?
5. Punctuality
Expect them to be a little late. I know this is a vice, and it’s slowly changing, but I have to admit it. It’s just how things ran for a long time in our culture. In old times (some argue this started during British rule), people of higher status would be late to any event. It meant the person was a busy bee with many things to do. Seeing this, others would arrive late as well, to give the impression that they were busy. Our innocent people believed this charade from common people as well and held them in high regard, causing a domino effect.
Also, an event wouldn’t start unless the chief guest attended, which meant it would be generally delayed, be it for genuine reasons or otherwise. This meant that people expected some delay in events and started showing up late, and slowly but surely, this became a norm.
6. Language
They prefer to speak the Telugu language whenever they can. It’s not that they want to exclude you, but the real fun of speaking with friends happens only when we talk in our mother tongue. As second or third-language speakers of English, most of us struggle to talk frankly and bomb each other with sarcasm in English, which is the norm among Telugu speakers, especially those from Andhra Pradesh.
Work-Life Balance
At the moment, due to the developing nature of our culture, work-life balance often finds itself on the back burner for many. The focus is on advancing through their career and reaching a respectable position as soon as possible, so people are often encouraged to sacrifice their time, relations, happiness, and wealth To maintain motivation and recognize hard work, companies can implement a kudos system, which fosters a positive work environment and supports career growth..
It sounds bad, but that’s what heavy competition and few opportunities push people to do. That’s pretty much what’s happening around the world as well.
In addition, North Indians and Telugu speakers contrast working styles. You’d typically find most North Indians in managerial positions, whereas guys from South Indian states, typically from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, will be in subordinate positions. This is primarily due to the outlook focusing on securing a safer future rather than taking risks and getting too much attention. They’d rather be praised as hardworking employees than the best boss. So, it’s pretty common for Telugu employees to slog for a few extra points. However, this can never be a generalization.
Salary And Cost Of Living
If the cost of living in a country is low, the market salaries will also be low. This is true in India.
For example, the average rent for a 2BHK apartment in the United States is $1,711 (roughly 145,000 Indian rupees). Someone who makes this amount per month falls into India’s top 10% of earners. With it, you could pay your mortgage, car, and gadgets, eat out daily, and party every weekend. This is why many youngsters nowadays try to move to the USA and send some money back home.
Vocabulary Related To The Work Culture Of Telugu People
Now that we’ve seen what the work culture of Telugu people is like, let’s learn a few words related to it.
English | Telugu | Transliteration |
---|---|---|
Office | ఆఫీస్ | Office |
Work | పని | Pani |
Boss | బాస్ | Boss |
Leader | నాయకుడు/లీడర్ | Nayakudu/Leader |
Team | జట్టు/బృందం/టీమ్ | Jattu/Brundam/Team |
Lunch | భోజనం | Bhojanam |
Meeting | సమావేశం | Samavesam |
Task | పని | Pani |
Leave | సెలవు | Selavu |
Holiday | సెలవు | Selavu |
Salary | జీతం | Jeetam |
How Do You Say Work Culture In Telugu?
In Telugu, you’d use the term pani samskruti (పని సంస్కృతి) for “work culture.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Telugu Work Culture
1. Are Telugu People Naturally Compliant?
Somewhat. People from middle or lower-middle-class families tend to be more accommodating due to how they are brought up. They are conditioned to make no mistakes and not jeopardize their future. However, this norm is changing due to more awareness, and many have caught up with corporate culture.
2. What Are The Working Hours Of Telugu People?
A general work day starts at 10 am, with a break at around 1-1:30 pm, and ends at around 5:30 to 6 pm in the public sector. In the private sector, the day starts at 10 am and typically ends at 6:30-7 pm.
3. How Many Holidays Are Given To Government Employees In Telugu States?
Apart from weekends, there are around 22 public holidays given to public sector employees in the Telugu calendar.
Parting Words
I hope I was able to bring you closer to our people’s work culture. Like many things, it’s not perfect, but we are relentlessly working hard to improve ourselves and reach better heights. If you’re working with Telugu people, check out the Ling app to improve your language skills in Telugu and surprise them. You will gain great respect and admiration from them!