Here’s How American Work Culture Differs From The U.K.’s– It’s Just “Insane”

By Moon Harper

Jun 22, 2024 02:30 AM EDT

A Get-together — (Photo : Pexels/Photo by ELEVATE)

A company's culture undoubtedly lures top talents in today's competitive workplace environment.

However, American culture lags behind other countries. One American worker, @eliseacrossthepond, on TikTok, described the UK's culture as insane.

Originally from New England, Elise has amassed over three million likes on her TikTok page by sharing insights into her life since relocating to London.

Here's what her viral TikTok video talks about:

Brits Don't Tip

Despite previously expressing dislike for how small the washing and dryer machines in the UK are, Elise was impressed with how Apple Pay is widely accepted as a means of payment everywhere and was surprised by the absence of a tipping culture.

While many establishments automatically include a discretionary surcharge, customers are not required to pay if they deem the service to be unsatisfactory and have the option to request its removal from the bill if they are genuinely dissatisfied with the service, Laura Windsor, founder of an etiquette academy in the UK, told CNBC Make It.

An Insanely Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)

In the video, Elise is recording herself applying makeup while preparing to go out. She highlights the significantly increased amount of paid time off she now receives from work, which she describes as insane.

In contrast to the United States, where no paid holiday requirement is mandated, UK employers must offer their staff a minimum of 28 days of holiday annually. A Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) study revealed that nearly one in four Americans does not receive any paid vacation time. According to a LinkedIn article, recent government statistics also indicate that the average private-sector worker in the US typically receives approximately 10 days of paid annual leave and around six paid public holidays each year.

Brits' Exceptional Messaging Etiquette

Elise continued to talk about the friendly greetings commonly used by Brits. Many are accustomed to inquiring about colleagues' well-being before requesting or concluding emails with phrases like "kind regards" or "best wishes." However, Elise mentioned that she initially found this practice to be unusual, highlighting the notable difference in the UK's email and messaging etiquette compared to the US While Americans might request tasks without formal greetings, the UK has this common practice of starting messages with friendly greetings before making a request.

The Brits' Drinking Culture

The UK's drinking culture has also surprised Elise, where drinking with your co-workers is more common than in the US Elise recalled her experience in business school in the States, where there was a strong emphasis on knowing limits and not drinking excessively. Meanwhile, having a few drinks with colleagues in the UK is generally more acceptable unless things get out of hand.

While Britons are accustomed to the notion that visiting the pub is a routine part of daily life from a young age, drinking in the US is more closely associated with social gatherings like birthdays and get-togethers. According to the San Francisco Examiner, it is often viewed negatively or frowned upon in American culture.