If you’re planning on doing business in Spain, you’ve made a great choice: the country is a vibrant and exciting place to work and make connections. As you would expect, every country has its own business culture, and Spain is no exception. Stereotypes lead our mind to siestas and a mañana-mindset, but is there any truth in this? In this post, we’re going to take a deep dive into the following topics so you can get a feel for business culture in Spain and can make a great impression from the off:
- Greetings
- Business dress code
- Working hours
- Business negotiations
- Business structure
- Spanish bank holidays
Greetings in Spain
While you might think that kissing each other on both cheeks is a standard greeting in Spain, it’s actually only a practice among people that know each other well. A more appropriate greeting in a business setting is a handshake. When you go into a room, make sure you greet everyone present, making eye contact as you do so.
Other considerations for when you meet somebody for the first time:
- Spanish has both a formal (usted) and informal (tú) you. The etiquette of when to use each is complicated and depends on the business sector. A good tip is to listen out for how the person you are speaking to addresses you and use the same form. If in doubt, use usted.
- Some people have two first names (e.g. Juan Carlos or Ana María): you should call them by both.
- You might notice that Spaniards stand closer to each other and touch each other more than is common in northern European countries.
- People in Spain interrupt each other more than in northern European countries. Don’t interpret this as rudeness: it is usually a sign that they are interested in what you’re saying.
Business dress code in Spain
As a rule of thumb, people like to look good in Spain, and this extends into the business sphere. The typical business dress code is classic with men and women wearing business suits with elegant accessories. Some sectors are slightly more informal, with dress to match, but appearance remains important. When doing business in Spain, it’s advisable to take time to look well put-together.
Working hours in Spain
Spanish working hours might be a little different to what you’re used to. A full-time position is typically 40 hours a week with most people starting between 8am-9am and taking lunch at 2pm. Lunch breaks are 1 to 2 hours and no meetings will be scheduled during this time. Some companies offer the opportunity to clock off after lunch on Fridays and reduced working hours in the summer (e.g. working 8am to 3pm) to cater to the hotter weather. A daily siesta isn’t a reality for most, but you will enjoy slower lunches, which will result in you logging off for the day later than back home.
Business negotiations in Spain
Relationships are at the core of business practices in Spain and something you should be aware of when negotiating. The getting-to-know-you process often involves business lunches and social meetings, making sealing deals a lengthy process. Moreover, regional differences come into play during negotiations with, for instance, Catalans preferring a professional style of negotiation while southerners are more traditional.
Business structure in Spain
Family-owned businesses and government organisations have strict hierarchical structures in place with a clear chain of command. This traditional business model is, however, evolving as many young managers that have studied abroad bring back more fluid models. In general, it’s good practice to speak to your counterpart during negotiations and contact your superior to contact theirs if any issues arise.
Bank holidays in Spain
Work-life balance is important in Spain and bank holidays (festivos) are an important part of that. Often celebrating religious or national events, bank holidays are taken on a specific date, regardless of the day of the week (unlike in other countries where they always fall on a Monday or Friday). This leaves the opportunity for workers to enjoy long weekends.
Let’s say that the bank holiday falls on a Tuesday, for instance. Most workers will take Monday as annual leave so they can enjoy Saturday to Tuesday off. This is known as a puente (literally meaning ‘bridge’). The national bank holidays in Spain for 2024 are as follows (there will also be additional regional bank holidays):
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