A widespread source of cultural misunderstandings related to preparation for the labour market between new immigrants and staff of integration agencies is the different degrees of importance labour market systems attach to formality. In Austria, access to labour market training programmes is highly regulated. Job seekers need to be assigned to courses by the Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS). Moreover, in Austria, known for its elaborate vocational training system, formal qualifications are absolutely crucial for most professions. It cannot be taken for granted that immigrants from other cultures are aware of this.

On the basis of Edward Hall’s ‘monochronic/polychronic’ understanding of time Richard Lewis developed his concept for which he divided societies into multi-actives, linear-actives and reactives.

Multi-active cultures, which can be compared to Hall’s polychronic ones, are likely to manage several tasks at one time, working  less formally and switching priorities according to what they deem to be more important in that particular moment. For this reason, time schedules and punctuality are secondary to the importance and significance attributed to the specific task, meeting or appointment. This doesn’t mean that multi-active cultures like some South-European and Arab and African ones do not respect deadlines or don’t care for punctuality. It is just that they have to see the importance of it on a personal level in order to commit to it.

Linear-active cultures such as  the German, the Swiss, British and Scandinavian cultures take a more formal, step-by-step approach and place importance on plans and schedules. They tend to do one thing at a time and adhere to deadlines and punctuality which they perceive as being very important.

In the context of Vocal in Need this has to be taken into account as many migrants coming to Germany or Austria are from multi-active cultures to which belong countries such as  Nigeria, Sudan or Algeria. From the perspective of linear-active countries, people from multi-active cultures may seem unstructured, disorganised, even irresponsible and lazy. The impression of irresponsibility may be due to the fact that they have a different understanding of time; the impression of laziness may be due to the different prioritisation of tasks. An unfulfilled task does not mean it is not important – it is just not important enough in that particular moment and circumstance.

The third group are the so-called reactive cultures such as Asia. These are cultures that place importance on respect and gentleness. As far as time is concerned, their understanding is different to the linear-active and multi-active cultures. This can be compared to reactions in handling the gears of a car, where multi-active people go immediately into first gear, enabling them to put their foot down to accelerate (the discussion) and to pass quickly through second and third gears as the argument intensifies. Reactive cultures prefer to avoid crashing through the gear box. Too many revs might cause damage to the engine (discussion). The big wheel turns more slowly at first and the foot is put down gently. But when momentum is finally achieved it is likely to be maintained, and, moreover, tends to be in the right direction. https://www.crossculture.com/about-us/the-model/reactive/

Advice

• Observe to understand to which group your counterpart belongs: Multi-active, linear-active or reactive
• Convey the importance of tasks and appointments on a personal level to enhance commitment.
• Avoid taking delays personally. This is about different approaches, not about you.