Warsaw City Guide - Business Etiquette

Letters of introduction are extremely useful for establishing contact with businesses in Poland. Presentations should be thoroughly prepared and, at a minimum, the executive summary should be translated. Decisions are often by committee, so negotiations may be protracted and a deal cannot be confirmed until all parties have signed.

Until familiarity has been established, a person's title and surname should be used when addressing them. Handshaking is customary and business cards (preferably translated) should be exchanged with all participants at a meeting. The dress code is, on the whole, sober and conservative.

Breakfast meetings are rare, despite the fact that the business day begins early, although business lunches and dinners are popular. Government offices are open Monday to Friday 0830-1630. Most offices in major industries open 0830-1700. Some businesses may open on Saturday morning.

The end of Communism brought the careers of many Polish people to a premature end, as the older generation was thought to represent an outdated system and inflexible attitudes. Consequently, many of those holding high positions in Warsaw's business world today are quite young. They are also more likely to speak English.

Poles love to stay up late; talking and drinking and dinner invitations are likely. The person who issues the invitation is generally the one who pays the bill. It is important for visitors to make sure that if giving a gift of flowers, there should always be an odd number.