From Culture Shock to Culture Fit: Helping Your Overseas Staff Ease into the NZ Workplace
Relocating to another country is stressful on many levels. For the person moving, there is a long list of 'life admin' to tick off: getting set up with tax and bank accounts, everyday utilities, purchasing a vehicle, finding a place to live and enrolling kids into schools. Then there's the cultural aspect - learning about the local culture and language and fitting into their new community and workplace. It's a lot to unpack, figuratively and literally.
From our experience, we've found our most successful and happiest clients all have one thing in common: supportive and empathetic employers who understand that getting all of the above sorted first will help their newly landed team member settle in smoothly.
Here are four practical ways employers can help staff from overseas hit the ground running in New Zealand:
#1
Help them get their 'life admin' sorted; giving tips and suggestions on where to go and who to speak to helps a lot, especially if they don't know where to start
This can include:
Putting them in touch with the right government agencies for their tax, driver's license, etc.
Offering recommendations on banks, health and life insurance providers, etc.
Showing them the best websites to find house rentals, purchase a vehicle etc.
Connecting them to community leaders or anyone in your network who can help them get settled in
Helping them prepare the necessary letters to support their application for tenancies or vehicle finance
#2
Introduce them to the Kiwi way of working and doing business
Getting to know what they're normally accustomed to in a work environment can give you a fair idea about the differences in their working style, and what they may need to 'get used to' in their NZ workplace. For instance, the Kiwi management style is 'relaxed' compared to other countries. We tend to have an independent style of working and less rigid hierarchies where managers, business owners, and CEOs are seen as 'part of the team' and not much weight is placed on rank. This approach to work and business relationships may seem foreign or even rude to somebody unfamiliar with it, so it always pays to give them an introduction to the Kiwi way of working.
#3
Check in on how they're getting on - a little chat goes a long way
If they're from a country where it's considered inappropriate to raise questions or problems, they might suffer in silence over issues at work or in their settling-in process.
Having casual chats over coffee is a great way to 'check in' on how they're getting on and start a conversation around any thoughts or questions they might have. Knowing they have the support and ear of their employer can go a long way in helping them feel more settled and part of the team.
#4
Be mindful of different communication styles (including accents)
We often forget how 'foreign' the Kiwi accent can sound to unfamiliar ears. Personally, we've lost track of all the times our own clients have asked us to speak slower or repeat ourselves because our Kiwi accents are hard to understand (funnily enough, we copped a bit of flack for this in Australia too! Fush'n'chups anyone?). Sometimes, slowing down just a tad bit can help avoid miscommunication.
Another thing to consider is we use a lot of local slang in our everyday conversations, and for newcomers, this may get confusing; teaching them a few slang words will keep them up-to-date with our lingo and help them better understand our culture.
Hiring offshore talent can greatly benefit your business, but beyond offering a job, there's also the matter of 'cultural fit'. Providing moral and practical support to them in your company can help them transition more smoothly into the Kiwi workplace - and help them understand and adapt to how we work and do business in New Zealand.
Read more of our Employer Series HERE.
