Are you ready to work with Mexicans?

The following are illustrations of innocent cross-cultural misunderstandings that could end up being controversial and costly. When we have little understanding of other cultures and the values they’re based upon, we may inadvertently hurt, anger or misjudge individuals from those cultures … or create the opposite impression or reaction than we desired.

Test your knowledge!

1. On December 12th, when Mexicans honor the Virgin of Guadalupe, a few workers at Jack Bennett’s plant in Puebla, Mexico, asked him to shut down the production line and offer a mass to the Virgin in the company’s cafeteria. Jack has no intention of shutting down production and prefers to leave religion as a personal matter. He feels he has made the right decision.
   Is he correct? ··· Yes ··· No
   
2. Diane Phillips, a senior attorney who arrived in Mexico a few days ago to work for a Mexican law firm, found herself having to decide between going to the secretaries' restroom or using the executive men's restroom. She decided to use the secretaries’ restroom.
   No problem, she said! I have nothing against secretaries!
   Is she correct? ··· Yes ··· No
   
3. The Human Resource manager of a supermarket chain in the United States is planning an employee survey. Since many of the employees are from Mexico, he plans to translate the survey into Spanish and thinks that is sufficient to assess his Spanish-speaking employees.
   Is he correct? ··· Yes ··· No
   
4. While in Mexico, many Americans say, “Those Mexicans go out for lunch for two hours and don't work.” And the Mexicans say, "Those Americans close up at 5:00 p.m. and go home while the Mexican is still in his office at 8:00 p.m."
   Are these perceptions correct? ··· Yes ··· No
   
5. The Mexican employee running the office-supply department in a U.S. company showed a female employee named Jane a cartoon about Tarzan and Jane and told her that he would be happy to become “her personal Tarzan.” She was very upset at the remark and accused him of sexual harassment.
   Is she right? ··· Yes ··· No
   
6. In a meeting, U.S. Americans can argue, disagree or confront each other and leave as if nothing happened.
   This often happens in Mexican meetings as well. ··· Yes ··· No
   
7. In Mexico, family is one of the first priorities.
   Correct? ··· Yes ··· No
   
8. “Poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States ….”
   Is this a real quote from a Mexican President? ··· Yes ··· No
   
9. A U.S.-based retailer entering the Mexican Market has a corporate culture that emphasizes “open-door policies,” “the customer is right,” and other concepts that work very well in the United States.
   These concepts should be easy to implement within the Mexican workforce. Correct? ··· Yes ··· No
   
10. Burping at the table after a meal is not a big deal in the U.S.A, right? You can do the same in Mexico.
    Correct? ··· Yes ··· No