News

13 otherwise odd things that are totally ordinary in the Israeli workplace

Advertising

1. Shorts – they’re basically business casual.

 

2. Jeans – a year-round phenomenon, not just a casual Friday occasion.

 

3. Succinct correspondence – starting a formal e-mail with “hi” and signing off with your initial (sometimes two if you’re really fancy).

 

4. /in·side voices/ : yelling mild requests across the office at a pitch only audible to dogs and select pigeons.

 

5. Air conditioners – that always seem to be broken in June, but perfectly functioning in January.

 

6. Informality – don’t be surprised if your boss asks you about your date last night or knows every detail of your coworker’s complicated family dynamic.

 

7. Babies – there always seem to be at least two babies being passed around the room like a slow motion rugby replay, also…

 

8. Stray children – I’m starting to wonder if they actually belong to anyone?

 

9. Lateness – an empty office at 9 a.m. is commonplace.The Israeli workplace applauds teenage behavior and encourages sleeping in as socially acceptable, even borderline cool. 

 

10. Holidays – lots and lots of holidays, days off, and half days. By some act of God, no Jewish holiday tends to fall on the weekend anymore, score!

 

11. Gossip – did you hear what happened to Tal’s sister’s cousin’s brother’s aunt last night at the club?

 

12. Hangovers – it’s Tel Aviv, what do you expect?

 

 

13. Foreign interns – we prefer to call them “pro bono” workers, "Taglit 2.0" or simply "free unadulterated labor."

 

Written by J.G., who worked her way up from #13 to a steady #12

 

Unemployed? Check out 15 tragic truths nobody tells you about being unemployed in Tel Aviv

You may also like
You may also like
Advertising