SLOVAKIA | Internship: At work | Dress code and manners

Adressing others at the work place

Business culture is based on relations. Although in formal contacts Slovaks use titles and prefer using the family names and more formal way of communication, they have no problem to address foreign partner using their first names. In institutions and companies relations are more formal and hierarchy of positions is respected. 
It is common in Slovakia to use titles when addressing people at work. At universities academic titles are used when students address their teachers. We don't address people at work by their first names unless we are explicitly asked to do so. We use the titles such as, for example, Mr. Director, Mr. Supervisor, etc. (It doesn't sound so strange in Slovak.) This is not always true in foreign companies. In the Slovak language there is also the problem of using the second person singular (Ty) or plural (Vy) when addressing people. It is rude to use the singular unless you are asked to do so. An older person can request a younger one to use the singular; a supervisor can request a subordinate, and a woman can request a man.

Dress Code

Prior to commencing placement a trainee should seek advice about dress codes in the company/office. You can usually wear casual clothes at work, but they have to be clean and neat. Unusual hairstyles and clothing can cause doubt about work performance with the older generation