Doing Business 223Office Hours
Generally, office hours are from 8:30 am or 9:00 am to
5:30 pm or 6:00 pm from Monday to Friday, although
many workers actually stay later. Banks are open Monday
to Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Government offices are
open Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, although
some of them are open to the public only for limited periods
during the day. Some offices may stay open even later
depending on the workload. Chileans take a long lunch (one
to two hours, although technically the lunch break should
only be one hour). Most people in major urban areas do
not go home or take a siesta.
In some countries employees will only do what is
specifically outlined in their job description. In Chile, the
atmosphere is much more relaxed and a Chilean employee
will be more likely to take on any number of tasks when
asked. Similarly, Chileans work late when required, are loyal
to the company and expect loyalty in return.
Although many offices may appear to operate very
informally, do not be deceived. There is a clear hierarchy
within the office no matter how democratically it seems to
function. As explained in the language chapter, the formal
version of the word you (usted) is used in many situations.
Furthermore, there are distinct class divisions among the
office workers. Even though a secretary may be on very good
terms with her boss, it is highly unlikely that they would
associate outside of the office.
Attire
Office attire may be more formal in Chile than in your home
country. Smart dressing is the norm. For the most part, there
are no ‘Dress down Fridays’. Short-sleeved dress shirts are
acceptable in warm weather and sweater vests are often
worn during the cold winter months. Men always wear a
jacket and tie for business, with navy being the predominant
colour. Men tend to put on their jackets when leaving the
office, even just for lunch. Women dress conservatively,
mainly in dresses, skirts or suits. Most secretaries and clerks
in large firms such as banks and government agencies wear