Slovak business culture guide - Learn about Slovak Republic

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Last updated: 27.09.2013

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Business Culture

In Slovak Republ ic

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the view only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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businessculture.org Content Slovak Republic

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Business Culture in Slovak Republic .......................................................................................... 4

Xenophobia: being a foreigner in Slovak Republic ............................................................................. 5

International business in Slovak Republic ........................................................................................... 5

General educations ............................................................................................................................... 6

Education standards ............................................................................................................................. 6

Cultural taboos ..................................................................................................................................... 7

Business Communications in Slovak Republic .......................................................................... 8

Face – to – face communication ........................................................................................................... 8

Language matters ................................................................................................................................. 8

Business relationship ............................................................................................................................. 9

Making Contact .................................................................................................................................... 9

Personal titles ........................................................................................................................................ 9

Business Etiquette .................................................................................................................. 11

Corporate social responsibility ........................................................................................................... 11

Punctuality .......................................................................................................................................... 12

Gift giving ........................................................................................................................................... 12

Business dress code ............................................................................................................................. 12

Bribery and corruption ....................................................................................................................... 12

Business Meeting Etiquette .................................................................................................... 14

Importance of business meetings ........................................................................................................ 14

Business meeting planning ................................................................................................................. 14

Negotiation process ............................................................................................................................ 15

Meeting protocol ................................................................................................................................ 15

How to run a business meeting .......................................................................................................... 16

Follow up letter after meeting with client ........................................................................................... 16

Business meals .................................................................................................................................... 17

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Business meeting tips .......................................................................................................................... 18

Internship and placement ....................................................................................................... 19

Work experience ................................................................................................................................. 19

Internship and placement advice ....................................................................................................... 19

Social security and European health insurance card ......................................................................... 19

Safety .................................................................................................................................................. 20

Do l need a visa? ................................................................................................................................. 20

Internship and placement salary ........................................................................................................ 20

Internship and placement accommodation ........................................................................................ 21

Cost of Living ........................................................................................................................... 22

Money and banking ........................................................................................................................... 22

Travelling costs ................................................................................................................................... 22

Work-‐life Balance .................................................................................................................... 23

National holidays ................................................................................................................................ 23

Working Hours ................................................................................................................................... 24

Work culture ....................................................................................................................................... 24

Health insurance ................................................................................................................................ 24

Social Media Guide ................................................................................................................. 25

SMEs .................................................................................................................................................. 25

Search and Social Media Marketing for International Business ........................................................ 26

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Business Culture in Slovak Republic

The following is a very short introduction to Slovak Republic. External links at the end of this page provide you with more in depth information concerning different topics.

The following video gives you an overview of the general facts:

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkaLBG0hfGw)

The Slovak Republic, also known as Slovakia, is strategically situated in the centre of Europe

surrounded by five countries: the Czech Republic to the northwest, Poland to the north, the

Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south and Austria to the west. The Slovak Republic was formed

in 1993 with a land mass of 49,037 km2, when Czechoslovakia separated into two sovereign

states. Slovakia joined the European Union in 2004 and adopted the Euro as its currency on

January 1st, 2009.

The population of the Slovak Republic is 5,483,088 million inhabitants (July 2012), with the capital

Bratislava being the largest city with 425,533 inhabitants, followed by Kosice with approximately

235,281 inhabitants, Presov with 92,147 inhabitants, Nitra with 86,138 inhabitants, Zilina with

85,278 inhabitants and Banska Bystrica with 81,961 inhabitants. There is a growing volume of

movement of people in the Slovak Republic, both from internal migration between regions and

immigration from abroad.

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The Slovak Republic had to implement many structural reforms before they could join the

European Union and start using the Euro as currency, which was beneficial to the overall growth of

the economy. The Slovak government has maintained a series of incentives to attract foreign direct

investment (FDI) to help maintain the upward trajectory of the economy since joining the EU.

The Slovak Republic also enjoys a well educated, skilled and cheap labour force, a flat rate of

taxation for corporations and individuals, no dividends taxes, liberal labour laws and a favourable

geographical location, compared to Western Europe. This has helped to increase foreign direct

investment by about 600% in the last 10 years.

Since joining the EU, the Slovak Republic has attracted a lot of investment in various sectors,

notably in industries like car manufacturing, metallurgy, chemicals and food processing. The main

sectors of the Slovak economy are the service sector, industry and agriculture.

The official language of the Slovak Republic is Slovak and its official currency is the Euro. The

Slovak Republic is in the Central European Time Zone and adheres to CET (UTC +1) during the

winter and CEST (UTC +2) during the summer. The climate is characterized by mild, humid

summers with occasional hot spells and cold, cloudy and humid winter with occasional arctic winter

spells. Winter months are very cold and temperatures can drop as low as -25C under extreme

conditions, but generally tend to stay between -5C to -10C under normal circumstances. In

summer, temperatures average between 25C to 35C and can reach 40C in extreme conditions.

Xenophobia: being a foreigner in Slovak Republic

Slovak attitudes to foreigners in business are that of mutual respect. They respond well to

foreigners when they see that they can learn from them, but can be intolerant of those who do not

appear to deserve their position. The days of blind adulation for everything foreign are long gone.

Slovaks have utmost respect for expatriates working in the Slovak Republic, but now that respect

is more for the knowledge of the individual rather than just because they are foreign.

International business in Slovak Republic

When you visit another country on business, you can expect some differences in how business is

conducted. However, you do not always have sufficient time to learn these differences through

personal experience. Sometimes, you will find yourself in a meeting only a few hours after your

arrival, where your lack of local knowledge leads you to make basic cultural mistakes, which can

have serious repercussions on your efforts.

This section is intended to equip you with the basic ‘ground rules’ for doing business in the Slovak

Republic to ensure that you are sufficiently able to deal with most of the business situations that

you may encounter.

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General educations

It is useful to be aware of the educational and linguistic competencies of your business partners to

help you prepare for your meetings and negotiations. Can you expect to find people who will speak

your language or should you bring an interpreter? What is the general level of computer literacy?

The Slovak Republic, just like the Czech Republic, has a high level of basic education and a long

standing tradition in engineering and manufacturing. Slovak managers tend to be well educated

with most having university degrees and the majority of those having a postgraduate degree in

management or their specialist field of expertise. Younger managers often travel to Western

Europe or the USA to study for their Master’s degree and gain practical experience.

Basic state education at the pre-school, primary and secondary school levels are free of charge and

mandatory for every child born in the Slovak Republic. The first step of schooling starts with pre-

school level and every child has the right to attend kindergarten between the ages of 3 and 6.

Sometimes places are limited, so parents have enrol their children in a school that may be slightly

further away or pay for a place at a private nursery school.

Primary school starts at the age of 6 or 7, depending on the child’s ability, and is divided into two

stages. The first stage of primary education takes 4 years and then the parents have to decide

whether the child continues to the fifth year in the same school or changes to a different school.

The reason for the change is that there are two types of schools at this level; comprehensive

schools (Gymnasium) and vocational schools (technical). The comprehensive school is further

divided into several specializations such as language, mathematics and science; vocational schools

are divided according to trade. A higher percentage of students that attend a comprehensive school

go on to university than those attending vocational schools.

Most students finish their secondary education around the age of 18 or 19. After graduation, the

students going to university continue with their education while the other group joins the

workforce.

University education takes a minimum of 4 years for an undergraduate degree, depending on the

course and 5 years for a specialist engineering degree, which is accredited at the same level as a

postgraduate qualification. Many local managers will go on to study for a postgraduate degree,

either locally, in Western Europe or at an American university, even after their acquiring their local

masters degree (Ing.).

Education standards

Education is the fundamental right of every citizen in the Slovakia Republic and every child is

mandatory to go to school from pre-school till they are 18years. The standard of education in the

Slovakia Republic is quite high and the university standard is also quite high.

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Cultural taboos

It is important to avoid mixing business with pleasure. Specifically, it is important to avoid asking

questions about intimate personal subjects, such as your host’s financial status, discussing

confidential business matters inappropriately, as well as racial and sexual jokes.

Slovaks might sometimes overstep the acceptable level of making jokes during business meetings.

However, you can talk generally about politics, the economy and important sports events.

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Business Communications in Slovak Republic

Communication is probably the most important aspect of doing business, yet we tend to take it for

granted when doing business in our own country because we are dealing with people that speak

the same language like us.

The section is divided into three areas: communication, working practice, and eating out. It

explains the differences between face-to-face communication, and dealing with people via the

telephone or by letter/fax etc. How important is it to address people by their correct title? How

should you introduce yourself? Should you always give your business cards? How important is it to

get things agreed in writing?

We think that this covers most business -situations. By reading this section, you should be

sufficiently well equipped with the basic ‘ground rules’ for doing business in the Slovak Republic.

Face – to – face communication

Slovaks are not talkative by nature, preferring to be less direct and more cautious in their

approach. Partners should be prepared to read between the lines. This does not mean that Slovaks

are trying to hide something, just that they are not used to speaking their minds to total strangers.

In the case of non-verbal communications, Slovaks are known for their cool heads and reserved

attitude. Communicating with their hands or wild gesticulation is not typical of Slovak behaviour.

Be aware that maintaining direct eye contact is an important part of communicating your intentions

in a business meeting; it shows your level of interest in the discussion and that you are listening.

On the other hand, not making eye contact could be interpreted as deceptive behaviour and lack of

interest.

Language matters

Many of the people in management positions in the Slovak Republic are multilingual. Most speak

English, Russian and German and people from southern Slovakia might also speak Hungarian. In

general, older people can speak a little bit of German, Russian, English and Hungarian in the

South. The younger generation speak mainly English as a second language, but French and

German are also popular. University educated people tend to speak more foreign languages than

the rest of the population.

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Most of the younger manages speak fluent English, which should negate the need for an

interpreter. A foreign business partner should always ask before the meeting whether an

interpreter is needed, in order to ensure there are no difficulties with communication and avoid any

embarrassment. It advisable to learn a few greeting phrases in Slovak to break the ice at the

beginning of the meeting.

The Slovak language differentiates between the singular (you) and plural (you) forms of address.

The singular form is a very familiar way of addressing someone and is used together with the first

name. The latter one is a more formal form of address and is used in conjunction with the

surname. However, it is also possible to use the plural form in conjunction with the first name as a

form of address. Thus, be careful, even the use of the first name does not necessarily mean the

relationship is too familiar. This is in contrast to English, where there is only one form of

addressing your business partner and a level of familiarity can be assumed when people address

each other on first name terms.

Business relationship

Slovak small and medium sized enterprises welcome every opportunity to do business with foreign

partners. For the majority of SMEs, it is assumed that a written agreement has priority over a

verbal agreement. As it is always difficult to substantiate and refer to a verbal agreement, written

agreements are always recommended.

Making Contact

In order to find information about potential business partners and opportunities in the Slovak

Republic, it is recommended to start with the following organisations:

You can also meet representatives of Slovak companies at trade shows, seminars and conferences

abroad.

Foreign partners are advised to make their first contact in written form, either by letter or fax or

email. Communications should be addressed directly to a specific person who is able to make a

quick decision, i.e. the Managing Director. If, after the first contact, it is known that the Slovak

manager speaks English, then the best and fastest way is to make a more direct connection and

arrange a face-to-face meeting. Slovaks prefer to have one-on-one negotiation.

Personal titles

There is still a strong tendency to use professional titles in Slovak society. Most individuals are

addressed according to their profession or how their name is written on their business card.

Therefore, individuals might be addressed as Mr. Engineer, Mr. Magister, or Mr. Doctor. In

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conversation with local business partners, you should always address them by their job title,

except in cases where academic titles are mentioned on the business card, in which case academic

titles will have priority over business titles when addressing the person.

For example, if the name of the general manager of the company is Prof. Ing. Jaroslav Novák,

DrSc., he should be addressed as ‘Mr. General Manager’ rather than ‘Mr. Professor’. The use of

academic titles in the business environment, for example Professor (Prof.), Docent (Doc.), Doctor

of Science (Dr Sc.), raises the level of respect for the individual (especially within the older

generation).

In small and medium sized companies, they do not put too much emphasis on positional titles;

they prefer to use academic titles. Older managers are used to calling each other with their titles,

but the younger generation prefer to be addressed by their surname. In a business meeting held in

English, both Slovak and foreign partners will follow the English norm, i.e. Mr. Novak for a man,

Mrs. Nováková for a woman, or Ms. for a younger woman. In the Slovak language, the surname for

man and woman varies according to grammatical rules. For women you would add ‘ová’ or ‘á’ to

the end of the name i.e. Mr. Novák becomes Mrs. or Ms. Nováková. This naming convention is the

thing that confuses most foreigners when they are communicating with their Slovak partners,

because it does not translate into an English way of thinking. In the Slovak language, the

postpositions of ‘ová’ or ‘á’ are used only for surnames when addressing women.

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Business Etiquette

Business etiquette focuses on the behaviour deemed appropriate in a professional setting and you’ll

be more likely to make an excellent impression on people you encounter if you maintain a

professional approach.

Attitudes and values are very important in trying to develop a business relationship between two

cultures or countries. Slovaks are well known for their professionalism and level-headedness in

business. They are friendly, but reserved, and it will take a few visits to get to know you before

they can really feel comfortable with you.

Basic tips to follow when doing business in the Slovak Republic

• Greetings should include a firm handshake and direct eye contact; a weak handshake means that you are weak and

no direct eye contact could be taken to mean that you are hiding something.

• Remain standing after greeting until invited to sit down as there might be a seat reserved specifically for you.

• Do not give chrysanthemums or calla lilies as gifts because these are traditional funeral flowers.

• Gifts are usually opened immediately after they have been received.

• Business appointments are mandatory and should be made in advance.

• Punctuality for meetings is taken extremely seriously.

• Initial meetings are scheduled as introductions to get to know each other and to build trust with your Slovak

associates. The first meeting may be with a middle manager, rather than the actual decision maker. Expect some

small talk and getting-to-know-you conversation before business is discussed.

• Slovaks are non-confrontational and often take an indirect approach to business dealings.

• Business is conducted slowly, so you will have to be patient and not appear ruffled by the strict adherence to

protocol.

• Business is hierarchical and decision-making power is held at the top of the company.

• Do not try to schedule meetings on Friday afternoons, as many Slovaks leave for their cottages in the countryside

after lunch.

• Many businesses close or operate with only minimal numbers of staff during August.

• Maintain direct eye contact while speaking.

• Presentations should be simple, accurate and detailed and, where necessary, you should have charts and figures to

back up your claims.

Corporate social responsibility

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a relatively new concept in the Slovak business community

and the government is trying to establish a partnership between companies, stakeholders and the

government to integrate social and environmental concerns into their business operations on a

voluntary basis. A project was launched in 2011 with the cooperation of partners including the

United Nations Development Programme, local universities and other stakeholders. It will also

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produce a government paper that will outline the National Strategy of support for CSR and provide

monitoring and evaluation of CSR in Slovak businesses.

Punctuality

Punctuality is important because arriving late for a business meeting does not paint a good picture

of the individual. The Slovak business community is very punctual and people don’t like to be kept

waiting for a meeting. A 15 minute grace period is normal in social settings, but might well be

frowned upon in a formal business environment where punctuality is expected.

Gift giving

Most business people do not expect to be given gifts at a first meeting. However, something small,

a souvenir representing the business partner’s country would be acceptable, such as a book about

the visitor’s home country, bottle of alcohol or corporate gift.

Expensive presents are not recommended and could prove to be counterproductive as most

companies have a ceiling on the value of gifts that can be accepted.

Business dress code

In the Slovak business community, your appearance gives the first impression about you.

Cleanliness and tidiness are a must and you should dress in a professional and conservative

manner, paying attention to the time and place of the occasion. For men, a dark coloured suit or

jacket and trousers with tie is appropriate and woman managers like to wear suits. Your choice of

attire should demonstrate individual style and taste, but you should avoid bright colours if you

want to be taken seriously; woman should also take care to avoid provocative clothes.

There is a saying that the way you dress shows your respect for the business partner.

Large organisations set a dress code policy for their employees, through which they are able to

show respect for their business partners, customers and the general public.

In small and medium sized companies, there are usually no specific dress code policies, except

where employees have to wear uniforms, and the style is more business casual. This is unless

there is an important meeting or special occasion, where everyone is expected to dress more

formally.

Bribery and corruption

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The Slovak Republic has the same problems as the rest of the eastern and central European

countries when it comes to corruption. Both foreign and local business people use bribery as a

business tool to secure business contracts or to cut through red tape when trying to start a new

business.

The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (2012) shows that the Slovak

Republic is currently in 62nd place, with a CPI score of 46.

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Business Meeting Etiquette

The safest practice when organising and attending meetings in another country is to ‘act local’.

Then you can be confident that your meetings will be successful and your hosts will appreciate your

cultural sensitivity.

There are a number of things you need to consider:

• What are the local attitudes to business meetings?

• How should you go about organising a meeting?

• How do you greet people at meetings?

• How should you run a meeting?

• What do you need to think about when conducting negotiations?

• What should you do after a meeting?

Importance of business meetings

In general, the first meeting with a Slovak company is characterized by a high level of formality

and politeness. Any decisions will depend on who is attending the meeting from the Slovakia side.

If the owner or general manager of the company is present at the first meeting, then you can

expect a quick response to whether a business arrangement is of interest; but if the company‘s

representative is a departmental head or a subordinate, then they will have to brief the owner

before a decision can be made. Once a verbal agreement has been reached, Slovak companies

prefer to have agreements written up under the direction of their lawyers. A lawyer’s involvement

depends on the stage of cooperation, but verbal commitments are not regarded as legally binding,

so it is important to have a general agreement drawn up in writing, even if it is not very detailed.

Business meeting planning • It is advisable to offer options for the dates and time of the meeting and give an indication of what will be

discussed, which will give the participants the opportunity to plan and prepare for the meeting.An agenda should

be distributed prior to the meeting.

• Don‘t forget to produce copies of any documentation required for the meeting in the language of your business

partner.

• The host is in charge of organising the meeting and creating the best conditions for the smooth running of the

meeting, including arranging the meeting room, equipment and any refreshments that may be required.

• The host will select who is going to attend the meeting, according to the status and positions of representatives

from the foreign partner. It is advisable to get a written confirmation of the meeting time with the name and

position of whoever is going to attend. You should always call ahead, if you cannot attend the meeting for any

reason.

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• Depending on the language skills of the people that will be involved in the meeting, a professional interpreter

should be made available for the meeting to help everyone understand each other.

• During the first meeting it is normal to start by introducing both companies, the initiating party then makes a

presentation of the goals for the meeting, followed by discussion of the problem and summarising the results of

the meeting, which both parties should agree upon.

Negotiation process

The Slovak negotiating style is similar to the Czech style. When dealing with an older business

partner, it is better to remain calm and take things slowly; spending time to explain clearly why

working together will be beneficial to both parties. Being in a hurry and rushing through your

negotiating presentation will only result in rejection, as they like to take their time before making a

decision and do not like to be rushed into making a decision. They need to feel comfortable when

negotiating, which means they prefer to talk to someone in their age group, as opposed to

aggressive ‘young guns’ who think that they know everything. Even though they are not emotional

in business, Slovaks still try to create a friendly atmosphere by cracking jokes and trying to be

humorous.

The younger generation are more westernized. Most of them studied their postgraduate

qualification in either Western Europe or America, so their negotiating skills tend to be more British

or American than Slovak.

Where the older generation might start a first meeting with a discussion about tourist sites in

Bratislava; a younger person will likely jump straight into the business discussion, with the aim of

being as efficient as possible.

Once both sides have reached an agreement, the Slovak side will want a written confirmation with

all the terms and conditions described in full. This is the way business is done and not due to any

lack of trust.

Meeting protocol

The basic way of greeting people is by shaking the right hand and saying “dobre den” (good

morning/afternoon), “dobrý večer” (good evening) or welcoming phrases “vítáj vás”(welcome) or

“těší mne, že vás mohu přivítat v naší společnosti” (I am pleased to welcome you to our company).

Without regard to gender, the host will always offer their hand first.

When shaking hands, you should have a firm handshake because a weak handshake can be taken

to mean that you are weak or unsure of yourself. Conversely, a handshake that is too strong might

be an indication that you will be inflexible and not open to proposals that might be put forward in

the meeting. It is always good to maintain eye contact as a demonstration of openness and

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sincerity. You should avoid over friendly gestures like slapping on the back, hugging, kissing on the

cheek or hands in any business situation. The kissing of a woman’s hand is also no longer

acceptable in a business setting.

The use of business cards is a common practice across all sectors of the economy. Although they

are never exchanged during the greeting, they should be given at the beginning of the meeting, so

that everybody knows with whom they are talking, what position they hold and for which company.

Business cards are used as a means of introduction and to provide basic contact information. The

exchange of business cards also enables you to identify a potential business partner and helps you

to know how to address the person. The function of the business card is becoming more important

in the Slovak business community and more thought and effort is now being put into their design.

Even though the design of business cards should be simple and informative, some SMEs use it as a

form of advertising.

For most Slovak companies, the language used on their business cards is Slovak.

Companies with international partnerships may have business cards with more than one language

i.e. Slovak and English. It is important to explain the position of the person to the foreign business

partner, because of the potential for difficulties with the correct pronunciation of names and

accurate translation of job titles. If written in Slovak, a job title might sound similar to an

equivalent position in another language, but the words could mean something totally different.

How to run a business meeting

If the Slovak side is hosting the meeting, then they have to prepare the agenda and run the

meeting. The senior representative from the Slovak company will present the agenda at the

beginning of the meeting and begin the discussion. During the meeting, some refreshments will

normally be offered, such as coffee, tea, water and biscuits. If the meeting runs longer than

expected, some food may be offered.

The host has to prepare the minutes of the meeting, including summarising the main points of the

meeting, conclusions drawn from the discussion and a schedule of further steps to be taken. The

meeting minutes are distributed within the week for review and approval and, if no modifications

are requested, a confirmation of the agreement will be issued.

Follow up letter after meeting with client

If it has been agreed to continue with the partnership, then the timetable plays a very important

role in defining the activities of both business partners. After the tasks are formulated, deadlines

are fixed and dates and places of future meetings are decided upon.

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In the case of one or both of the partners not seeing any future in their cooperation, each party

has the right to terminate negotiations and a full explanation for that decision will then be

expected.

Business meals

Sharing a meal is generally one of the more enjoyable aspects of doing business in another

country. We have included it as a separate section because formal meals can represent an

opportunity to develop social relationship, which, as we all know, can be essential for strengthening

any long-term business partnership. But this aspect presents a whole series of questions. Who

pays for the meal? Should you offer to pay? When and what to eat? Could you refuse a specific

dish? Can you discuss business at the table during the meal or when is it most appropriate?

Attitudes to Business Meals

Most Slovak business people would never host a business dinner in their own home. Inviting a

business partner for dinner at home happens only after their relationship has become more

personal. Therefore, most Slovaks will invite their business partners to dine at a local restaurant.

There are no written rules on how to begin a conversation or when it is appropriate to talk about

business. Mostly, it depends on the host and the business discussion will begin after the meal has

been ordered, depending on how much time both parties have.

Restaurant Etiquette

The host will always choose the restaurant, make the reservation and pay for the meal, including

the tip. An invitation to lunch will usually offered during the first meeting, whereas a meeting to

finalize the details of a business agreement is usually held in the more formal surrounding of the

company’s office.

If the invitees will be meeting at the restaurant rather than travelling together, it is recommended

to arrive on time. There are no strict rules on where to sit; although if there are only two people,

then you will probably sit opposite each other.

The dress code for lunch and dinner would be formal business attire, such as a dark coloured suit

for men and something equally professional for women. If you are not sure what to wear, it is best

to ask the host for advice.

Food and Drink

In Slovak culture you are not obliged to accept everything you are offered, and truthfully, it is

probably better to refuse some things, than to be forced to eat or drink it. The typical national dish

is ‘bryndzové halušky’, which is a mixture of potato dumplings ‘halusky’ with ‘bryndza’, a soft

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crumbly cheese traditionally made by shepherds out of sheep milk. A typical meal will consist of

three courses: a cold appetiser or soup, main dish and a dessert; and it really does not make any

difference if you finish your food or leave something on the plate.

The Slovaks have a beer drinking culture, so they will probably offer beer to their guest. However,

guests should feel free to order whatever they prefer to drink. In case of an official business lunch

or dinner, or if the occasion calls for it, the host may raise a toast for success with a locally

produced alcohol called ‘Slivovice’.

Other Issues (Including Restaurant vs Home)

Smoking during a business meeting is not uncommon and most places in the Slovak republic still

allow smoking, even in restaurants during the lunch service. It is common courtesy to ask whether

anyone minds, before you smoke and it is best to follow the lead of your host and their

preferences.

Business meeting tips • Do not underestimate a Slovak partner, give them enough space during the meeting, listen to their ideas and

recommendations and you may be surprised with different ideas and new way of looking at things.

• Come prepared and be confident, but not arrogant, because Slovak managers are very sensitive to this.

• Do not look down on your Slovak partners, if you want to gain their trust and overcome any perceived distance

between you.

• You should present your opinions, but not force them on others as as this was an approach that many Slovak

managers experienced during the economic transformation, and will likely alienate them as potential partners.

• Both partners should come to the meeting table as equals and treat each other with respect and openness; active

participation of both sides in the discussion will be taken as a sign of their interest.

• If you have the feeling during the meeting that your partner is pessimistic or not active in the discussion due to a

lack of understanding or self-confidence, then you should simplify the presentation of your strategy, putting more

emphasis on the aims and expected results.

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Internship and placement

Work experience

A placement involves the placement of a student in a temporary work or research environment to

enable them to gain extremely valuable experience that will benefit them in the long term.

There are many types of placement, including work placements, school placements and student

exchanges. Some companies have placement departments to help integrate new hires into the

company. They may also help with paperwork, especially if the candidate is from a different

country.

Placements are sourced by outside agencies, as well as university departments, and most

opportunities are advertised through the internet or university career centres. In fact, most

universities have career centres that will support and assist students with placement applications,

as well as assistance in finding work that compliments their studies or a permanent position

following their graduation.

Placements are not common in Slovak companies, even though some companies are trying to

implement the system as part of their strategy to bring in newly qualified employees.

Most placement opportunities are found with educational institutions looking for research assistants

or young foreigners who are targeted to fulfil European Union funding requirements. Some

companies are now trying to attract students through attendance at university open days, which

give employers access to potential future employees and allow students to explore options that are

open to them.

As part of policy targeting unemployed students and general unemployment, the government has

also instituted a subsidy scheme to assist companies who are able to take on and re-train new

workers.

Internship and placement advice

The practical needs of a local student will be far less than a foreign student, and placement

negotiation would usually be limited to salary and duration. As a foreign student, issues including

accommodation, work permit (if needed), insurance, healthcare, taxes, banking and so on, will

need to be investigated prior to the submission of a placement application.

Social security and European health insurance card

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The healthcare system in the Slovak Republic has been undergoing reform since 2006 and there

are still issues with gaps in coverage provided by government funded healthcare services. The

public healthcare that is available is quite good, but there are a growing number of private

hospitals and clinics. In the event of an accident or for emergency medical assistance, the

international number for the emergency services is 112.

For local assistance in the Slovak language, dial 155 for the ambulance service. If the ailment is

something less serious like a migraine or headache, going to a ‘Lekaren’, which is the Slovak name

for a chemist or local pharmacy, is the best solution.

Although some services will be provided free of charge through the national healthcare system on

production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), hospitalization and various other

services will be payable, either in cash or through private insurance.

Safety • Emergency telephone numbers are: 155 for the ambulance service and 158 for the police, with communication in

Slovak; and 112 for international access to all the emergency services.

• The electric voltage in the country is 220 V; 50 Hz.

• Tap water is safe to drink.

• The speed limits are 50 km/h within inhabited areas; 90 km/h outside inhabited areas, 110km/h for motorway and

130 km/h on highways.

Do l need a visa?

Citizens of European Union are allowed to travel between EU member states and the Slovak

Republic without a visa. Residents of the United States are allowed to visit the Slovak Republic for

a maximum of 90 days without requiring a visa, unless they intend to work or study. Most visitors

from the rest of the world will need to apply for a visa, except where there is an agreement in

place between the two countries.

Temporary residence permits are available to those who wish to remain in the Slovak Republic

longer than 90 days and who are able to meet certain criteria required by the government.

Internship and placement salary

A salary should be agreed before the start of the placement and that agreement is between the

student and the company. Some countries have a minimum hourly rate salary that is applicable to

most or all employment situations.

You should also consult with the company about your tax situation and whose responsibility it will

be to pay income tax, national insurance contributions and health insurance.

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Internship and placement accommodation

Most local universities have dormitories or halls of residence available to both local and foreign

students. This accommodation is generally cheaper than renting a private flat. Some companies

might also provide accommodation for their employees, as a form of company benefit or

compensation for low wages.

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Cost of Living

The standard of living in the Slovak Republic is comparable to other eastern and central European

countries, which is typically lower than western European countries.

Money and banking

The Slovak Republic joined the single European currency on the 1st of January 2009, adopting the

Euro at a rate of 30.1260 Slovak Koruna to one Euro.

The Slovak Republic has many commercial, mortgage and investment banks. If you are going to

work in the Slovak Republic, you may need to open a local bank account, so that your salary can

be paid into it. All major credit cards are accepted but personal cheques are not acceptable.

Opening a bank account is easy; you will need to show a form of photo identification (normally a

student ID card and/or a valid Passport) along with proof of address.

Nine of the ten biggest banks in the Slovak Republic are owned by large foreign banks, which could

be of benefit for companies thinking of investing in Slovakia; as companies that already have a

business relationship with one of these parent banks may find it easier to open accounts at local

Slovak banks and arrange financing.

Travelling costs

For placements in any of the big cities, transportation should not be a problem. Slovak public

transportation is efficient, clean and punctual and is the easiest and fastest mode of transportation

in the capital and country at large. There are various student discounts available on production of a

valid student card, including the International Student Identity Card (ISIC).

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Work-‐life Balance

Slovaks are prepared to work long hours because of the high unemployment levels and minimal

state social benefits for the unemployed. So, people have been sacrificing their work-life balance in

favour of providing for their families and maintaining a good standard of living.

European labour laws state specifically that no one should work more than eight and a half hours

per day, unless there is a contractual agreement in place between the parties concerned.

However, Slovak employees have the same problems as their western counterparts with companies

not respecting employment legislation; things like working longer hours than allowed by the law,

short annual leave, no paternity leave, no flexible working hours, no help with day care for working

mothers and so on.

Companies that don’t want to lose their best employees are beginning to offer additional benefits

like flexible working hours for working mothers, parental leave for fathers, time-off to study and

many other benefits that would have been impossible five short years ago.

National holidays

These are the dates of public holidays (bank holiday):

• 1st of January, Emergence of Slovakia and New Year

• 6th of January, Feast of the Epiphany

• Good Friday and Easter Monday, (Easter falls on a different date in late March or early April each year)

• 1st May, International Workers’ Day

• 8th May, Day of freedom from fascism

• 5th July, Slavic Apostles Cyril and Metodius

• 29th August, Slovak National Uprising

• 1st September, Day of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic

• 15th September, Day of Our Lady of Sorrows

• 1st November, All Saints’ Day

• 17th November, Day of the Velvet Revolution, the date riot police suppressed a student protest leading to the fall

of the Communist Party.

• 24th December, Christmas Eve

• 25th December, Christmas Day

In the Slovak Republic, all employees are entitled to four weeks holiday in a year, normally divided

as one week in winter and three weeks in summer.

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Working Hours

The Slovak Republic officially limits working hours to 40 hours per week and employees get annual

vacation of at least 20 working days. If an employee is asked to work overtime, this must not

exceed 52 hours a week and there must be an agreement in writing between both parties. In

specific situations, a collective agreement or individual agreement may provide that working time

for seasonal jobs may exceed 52 hours, but not more than 60 hours a week.

Work culture

The work culture in the Slovak Republic is quite formal and structured. The people pride

themselves as been highly qualified and productive but you still have to keep a close eye on them

so that they don’t slack off.

Slovak Republic has a number of legal measures protecting workers. All companies have to adhere

to government regulations in the areas of health and safety, discrimination, minimum wage levels,

part-time employment, and equal opportunities.

Health insurance

The Slovak social security system and all its departments are under the control of the state, which

provides services including health care, pensions, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, child-

related benefits and many more.

While all Slovak citizens are guaranteed healthcare by the state, hospitals are funded through

several independent and commercial health insurance companies. All companies registered in the

Slovak Commercial Register must pay a percentage of their employee’s gross salaries toward social

security and health insurance funds.

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Social Media Guide

The popularity of social media usage in the Slovak Republic is on the rise, like the rest of Eastern Europe. Facebook usage has grown exponentially in the last couple of years and the trend looks like continuing in the next few years. The number of registered Facebook users, as of the 1st November 2012, is 2,060,860 and it had grown by 112,120 in the prior six months. This means Facebook has a penetration of 37.78% of the country’s population and 47.51% in relation to the total number of Internet users. The largest age group is currently 25 to 34 year olds with a total of 600,760 users, followed by users in the age range of 18 to 24 and then 35 to 44. The ratio of male to female Facebook users is 48% to 52%, respectively.

LinkedIn is very popular as a networking site for professionals and entrepreneurs, as well as university students who are using it to promote themselves to potential employers. Many head hunting agencies also use LinkedIn as a reference point to check for potential clients.

Twitter is not really popular in the Slovak Republic, but it does seem to be on an upwards trend.

Almost 80% of the general population are internet users and around 75% of Slovak households have internet access. The total number of internet users in the Slovak Republic is 4,337,868, which is about 79.2% of the population as at June 30th, 2012.

SMEs

Most companies in the Slovak Republic now have some form of presence on the internet, some just have a company website, while others have a Facebook page or have joined Linkedin. Many of these social media networks are used for different things, by different companies.

The service sector, especially hotels and restaurants, are heavy users of social media for both promoting their services and reacting to public comments about their establishment. Businesses ask their customers to like them on social media, so that their customers’ friends will see the comments. By controlling and reacting to comments on social media, these companies are able to react to customers concerns in a timely fashion, which helps them control their image or improve people’s opinion of them.

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Some companies use Linkedin to advertise vacancies and find potential employees. These companies can also encourage their employees to join different groups on Linkedin that might be beneficial to the company.

Technology and manufacturing companies have been attracted to YouTube because video is an excellent means of showcasing products and demonstrating process improvements. YouTube also has the highest daily traffic of all social media network and many major companies use it to advertise current products and introduce new products for immediate customer comment, which allows companies’ to shorten the feedback cycle and improve customer relations.The biggest users of social media sites for advertising are internet shops selling fashion, mobile technology, household goods and everyday products, auction sites and dating sites. Most of them use local search engines like Zoznam.sk, google.sk, atlas.sk and centrum.sk because they are more visible to local customers.

Search and Social Media Marketing for International Business

Learn how to use social media for business from one of Salford Business School’s latest business management courses. The course was jointly researched by the Passport to Trade 2.0 project team and prepared in collaboration with some of the leading digital marketing agencies in the UK.

This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) can help businesses and individuals to make the best use of search and social media platforms. The course is called Search and Social Media Marketing for International Business and is applicable to students looking for placements abroad as well as businesses thinking about new trade links; it comprises the following twelve topics:

How to develop a personal brand online (1/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9LYw0mgtn4&feature=player_embedded

• Whether you are a student beginning a job search or a business person planning a new business venture, personal branding can make a difference.

• Learn about personal branding and why it is important for you.

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How to use Twitter (2/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CVY3pp91Dc&feature=player_embedded

• Learn the basics of using Twitter to develop an individual or business profile.

• Remember to use hash tag #SSMMUoS to share your learning journey on this course so far!

How to use Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) (3/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw27cRcwtM0&feature=player_embedded

• Learn the principles of SEO to ensure that your website and any social media profiles are found by individuals searching for your name, products and services.

• These basic principles of SEO include keyword research, on-page optimisation and off-page optimisation.

How to use social media for international business development (4/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Bx-B56AHS4c&feature= player_embedded

• Social media networks break down the traditional country barriers, but do you know which networks are relevant for the country you are interested in trading with?

• Find out in this video how to identify the relevant networks and what social media strategies you might be able to use on these networks.

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How to use Facebook (5/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=UmRGn-vdcO8&feature= player_embedded

• Facebook is currently the largest social media network in the world and it can benefit you as a business as well as an individual.

• Learn how to develop a Facebook business page and see how other businesses use it and what strategies work for them.

How to use YouTube (6/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=G20OVpmTBss

• YouTube was identified as the second largest social network amongst younger internet users as part of the Passport to Trade 2.0 project.

• Learn how to optimise your video content in order to reach wider audiences for your profile.

How to use LinkedIn (7/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6e_EAUQqic&feature=player_embedded

• LinkedIn is one of the three main professional social networks – the others being Xing and Viadeo which are also popular in several European countries.

• Learn how to make the most of LinkedIn for your profile.

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How to use Google+ (8/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8ti3SPHkEWw

• Google+ is the second largest social network as of January 2013.

• It is one of the fastest growing social networks and one that has the biggest impact when it comes to search engine results integration for anyone who uses Google as their main search engine.

• Learn how to make the most of Google+ for you and your digital profiles.

How to use copywriting online (9/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f1hx_f2ONI&feature=player_embedded

• Copywriting is a process of translating technical specifications and product descriptions into engaging and understandable customer focused text.

• Learn about the basic techniques in structuring your online content here.

How to stay legal on social media (10/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQxD-piHsdk&feature=player_embedded

• Everything and anything you do and say online can be potentially viewed by anyone who has internet access.

• Always respect the law and familiarise yourself with new options offered to you through a creative commons licence which is popular online.

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How to use monitoring and reporting (11/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbEq7jsG0jg&feature=player_embedded

• Whether you are an individual or a business spending time on social media – there has to be a return on your engagement online.

• How do you justify your engagement on social media to your boss? Listen to the industry experts in this area and see what you might be able to measure in respect of your on-line engagements.

How to blog (12/12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqVjR7oI8Rs&feature=player_embedded

• Blogging is a process of writing text and sharing content with others. It can help your customers or friends to keep in-touch regardless of social media platforms.

• Think about the voice you might want to adopt and who your audience might be. Share your thoughts with us by writing a blog post about this MOOC.

• Tweet us the link to your post on the #SSMMUoS Twitter hash tag.

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Passport to Trade 2.0 Project Partnership Five Universities:

Lead partner: Salford Business School, University of Salford, United Kingdom

Elena Vasilieva Aleksej Heinze Alex Fenton

URENIO research unit at Aristole University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Christina Kakderi Nitsa Papadopouloui

TSE Entre Research Centre Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, Finland

Satu Aaltonen Elisa Akola

Institute for Information System Research University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany

Verena Hausmann Susan P. Williams Petra Schubert

Valahia University of Targoviste, Romania

Adriana Grigorescu Leonardo Badea

Three Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Spin, Italy

Carmine Antonio Donato Dorella De Tommaso

Technology Development & Innovation – TDI LTD Bulgaria

Milanka Slavova Ivan Stoychev

TIS Praha, Czech Republic

Anna Klosova Richard Adekeye

Slovak business culture guide - Learn about Slovak Republic

Education

Transcript of Slovak business culture guide - Learn about Slovak Republic