Working Culture in Nepal :There is a combination of modern way and traditional values to the working culture in Nepal. There are still many workplaces where culture, family and social structure still influence. However things are slowly changing, mainly in cities and in private companies.
Leadership and Decision Making:
Leadership is a very hierarchical thing in many of our Nepali workplace. It implies that the most decisions are made by the top management or boss. Instructions are usually followed, but not always to the same ‘rule’, and employees often don’t want to show their own opinions. This type of structure is very prevalent in government offices and in traditional companies. But leaders in newer companies, especially IT and education businesses are being more friendly and open to suggestions. I like when leaders listen to the whole before deciding. I hope that more companies can follow in this company’s footsteps in the future.
Communication and Relationships:
Workplace relationships are very important in Nepali context. At work people often become a second family because people like to interact with people they know well. Seniors and managers are highly respected. At the same time, coworkers are friendly to each other, and in the best of environments can be helpful. This brings more comfort to the work environment because of this kind of close relationship.
Time and Punctuality:
Generally, Nepali people do not follow strict time rule. Of course, many offices have flexible start and end times, especially for government offices where people can take their time to come, and leave before the actual office end time. Deadlines get pushed back and meetings start late at times. This relaxed attitude will let less stress but I think that we should be more careful with time. Being late reflects a lack of respect for other people and does not allow work to run as smoothly.
Family and Gender Roles:
Family is very important in Nepal, and it is reflected in work life. People may also take off to attend to family events, festivals or to care for elderly. I like that work and family can remain balanced most companies are aware of this and I like that it is so. There still exists gender roles in many places. That is the reason a man is at higher position than a woman who may face problems at work especially in rural areas. But this is also changing. Now, more women are working, studying and filling leadership roles and that is especially the case for women in cities. I do believe in gender equality and favor equal support to women at any level of work.
Quality and Customers:
Customer service is not a priority in all businesses of Nepal. Not all people get carried away with doing the job at any cost. As more companies compete, they want to build a good reputation; however, this is improving. It is very important focus on quality and customer satisfaction. It helps the company grow and keeps customers happy. I would like to see this matter more addressed with training and awareness.
Conclusion:
Therefore in a nutshell one could say that Nepal’s working culture is friendly, respectful, but closely connected to one’s family values. There are also strong relationships and flexibility with many workplaces. If I had to change the structure of one thing, it would be time management, gender equality, and communication. I also wish for companies to be a little more open and accepting of team ideas. However, if we can fuse our traditional values with some modern practices, we will be able to create a better more productive workplace in Nepal