Austria

Acceptable Public Behavior

Respect, conservatism, and a respect for conservatism are the keys to business success in Austria.
As befits a highly traditional nation, Austrians conduct themselves in public with a tremendous amount of polite formality. You should, therefore, comport yourself with similar dignity and avoid doing anything that might draw attention to yourself:
Avoid exaggeration and extravagant compliments.
Avoid public displays of affection and even casual pats on the back.
Try not to introduce yourself to others, but wait to be introduced by a third person whenever possible.
Attract another person's attention by raising your index finger with your palm open and facing outward.
Never keep your hands in your pockets when talking with others or even when standing alone, older Austrians in particular find this offensively bad manner.
Keep your hands above the table when dining. Placing the hands below the table is considered impolite in many European countries.
Do not jaywalk, even when there is no traffic in sight. Austrians normally obey the 'don't walk' sign, not because of the fine, but because of their respect for authority.
Courtesy and an almost exaggerated politeness are integral features of Austrian behavior.
In accordance with Austrian etiquette, you should acknowledge people with a formal greeting before jumping into conversation; the most common salutation is Grüß Gott.
If you know the positions of the people you are meeting, extend your hand to the most senior individuals first. When shaking hands, be sure to give a quick yet confident handshake. Men should wait for a woman to initiate any handshake.
As in most European countries, a handshake should be extended when leaving as a way of confirming what has been discussed and solidifying your friendship. Again, it is impolite to take one's leave from any room or building without saying Auf Wiedersehen or Auf Wiederschauen to all those present.
Women are often still treated with a greater degree of ritualized respect by men. Some older Austrians, in fact, may take the woman's hand [always after she has offered it] and raise it towards their lips as they bow from the waist saying küßdiehand, gnädige Frau. It is important that the hand does not actually touch the lips and that the 'kiss' is merely symbolic. Like a handshake between men, this gesture may even be accompanied by a gentle clicking of the heels.

Business Attire

Do not dress flamboyantly or scruffily.

Austrians tend to dress in a simple yet elegant manner and take tremendous pride in their appearance. In order to make that crucial first impression, you should ensure that you do the same by wearing only high-quality, well-fitting clothing and polished leather shoes. A particular brand name is not important in itself but Austrians are keenly aware of the quality that is associated with any given brand.
The safest option for men is a dark woolen suit with a white cotton shirt and conservative silk tie. The equivalent for women is a tailored suit and silk blouse or a business dress; classic, elegant trouser-suits are acceptable provided they are well cut and an appropriately discreet color.
Modest jewelry or a silk scarf may add reserved glamour.
Both men and women may be seen from time to time in traditional clothing. Such Tracht constitutes perfectly acceptable alternatives to a suit or eveningwear for both work and formal social events; for instance, men might wear dark, collarless jackets with special folkloric designs embroidered on the lapels whilst women wear a Dirndl dress.
The 'loden' overcoat in heavy, usually green, wool is a common sight on the streets of Austrian cities in winter and both men and women often wear hats.

Conversations and Networking

Austrian formality in business discussions also carries over into personal conversations.
Displaying knowledge of Austrian history and culture demonstrates an awareness of the uniqueness of Austria, which will be appreciated by Austrians, who will take against anyone who fails to recognize the clear distinction between them and the Germans.
Do not make idle promises during conversation. Politeness does not mean dissimulation or hypocrisy. Austrians expect you to mean what you say, and say what you mean, and they will know when you do not.
Nevertheless, Austrians wear their formality with a certain easy lightness and a major distinction between Austrian and German characters is that the former are much more tolerant of fooling around than their neighbors.
Austrians have a great sense of humor that is not always refined or subtle and they will accept your joking so long as you are self-deprecating at the same time. Teasing others, though, may be interpreted as putting them down, and that is certainly not appreciated. Unless you are confident of your command of German idiom and/or Austrian taste, it is perhaps best for a visitor to avoid making jokes that can be easily misconstrued in another culture. Humor has no place at a formal meeting or in the office at all when senior staff is present.
As always it is courteous to have some knowledge, however basic, of your host's language. Any attempt to speak German will be appreciated, even if you can only manage simple greetings and phrases, but a minimum of 'restaurant' German may be essential outside the major cities.

Welcome Topics of Conversation:

Classical music [Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Johann Strauss, Bruckner, Schönberg and Berg were all Austrian]
Opera [especially Mozart and Richard Strauss, even though he was born in Munich]
Austrian art and architecture
Winter sports

Topics to Avoid:

Money
Separation and divorce
Religion
Anti-Semitism
Austria's role during World War II

Meetings, Presentations, and Negotiation Tactics

The business culture is rooted in hierarchy, so it is normal for the boss to be the one to make any decisions.
It is important to remain patient in business transactions, as the pace at which decisions are made can be slow.
Always try to build rapport with your colleagues as feelings are as important as evidence in making a decision to the Spanish.
It is a good idea to include a paper summary of your presentation in Spanish to hand out to audiences to make sure that they understand what you are saying.

Dinner Etiquette

Austrians take their food seriously and eat heartily.
Gemütlichkeit is a central tenet of the Austrian way of life. Impossible to translate in one word, it implies an easy-going enjoyment of life and the finer things in life. Good food and drink in comfortable surroundings and a leisurely atmosphere with entertaining company are essential features of this almost hedonistic outlook.
Breakfast [Frühstück ] is 'continental' but Germanic in scope and scale; it is typically accompanied by coffee with hot milk [known as Melange]. Lunch [Mittagessen] and dinner [Abendessen ] both tend to be substantial meals: the schnitzel and noodles you had at lunch might also make an appearance at dinner; quick sandwiches are not common at luncheon, which is usually the main meal of the day. Additionally there are often breaks for a sandwich in mid-morning [Brotzeit ] and in mid-afternoon for coffee and cake [known in Austria as Jause ].
Austrians maintain a strict balance between work and play and local business associates may wait until negotiations are nearing completion before extending a meal invitation to you. This is not to say that business entertaining is not important in this culture; it is and it is crucial to make a good impression in these situations.
If you are invited to a business lunch, you will find it to be the largest meal of the day. Wait for your host to bring up the topic of business first. Until then, be prepared to engage in pleasant 'small talk' that is distinct from business.
Austrians rarely entertain business associates at home. If you do receive an invitation to an Austrian home, you should consider it quite an honor and behave accordingly, i.e. you should arrive promptly, smartly dressed and bearing gifts for the host, the hostess, and their children.
If you receive an invitation to dinner and your host's spouse is included, you can expect the invitation to be extended to your own spouse. The host and hostess of an event may arrange the guests in any way they see fit but, traditionally, the guest of honor will sit to the right of the host.
Commonly the meal will be preceded by drinks and appetizers. After dinner, you should expect to continue in conversation over coffee and brandy or liqueurs but aim to depart within an hour of the end of the meal. Dinner parties will usually be over by 23.00 or 23.30 and certainly before midnight.

Traditionally, the host of the meal or event will initiate proceedings with a toast. Until then, no one should raise a glass. The host will lift his or her glass while making eye contact with the most senior guest and say Prost! The guest of honor should reply with a toast of thanks at the end of the meal or event. Similarly you should not start to eat until the signal is given; this is usually an exchange of Guten Appetit or Mahlzeit! initiated by the host or hostess.
Do not put your hands in your lap; they should be visible at all times and kept above the table. Refrain from letting your elbows rest on the table.
If possible, you should cut your food with the side of your fork; using a knife implies that you do not think the food is tender enough and this is considered poor manners.
The correct way to signal a server that you have finished eating is by placing your knife and fork diagonally across your plate, with the serrated edge of the knife facing you and the fork tines pointing up.
If the meal is less formal, the food may be served on platters or in bowls placed on the table for everyone to serve himself or herself. In this case the host or hostess will invite guests to help themselves. You should not, however, actually start eating until the hostess does so.
A hearty appetite is the norm in Austrian society and it is quite acceptable to display it in public. You should try to eat everything that is served to you but do not take large portions of food if you are not certain you can eat it all as you will be perceived as wasteful.
Austrian wines and/or beers are usually served with everyday meals, with fine [e.g. French] wines reserved for grander occasions.
Beer is the consuming passion but it is worth exploring the national wines, mostly white but, increasingly, red also. Equally coffee is available in many different styles and tea is much more popular than in most European countries.

Other

Austrians plan their schedules weeks, even months, in advance and try to follow what they have pre-arranged in their appointment books. If it is absolutely necessary to reschedule an appointment, you should ensure that you do so as soon as you know of the change.
Telephone interviews, on the other hand, can sometimes be had at surprisingly short notice.
Austrians are scrupulously punctual and expect others to observe the same courtesy at all times. It is therefore essential to arrive on time for all meetings and other engagements, especially if you are invited to a prestigious concert or opera in Salzburg or Vienna. Austrians view people who can manage time as also being able to handle business projects with punctilious attention to detail. These qualities are of tremendous importance to them.
The Austrian transport system is efficient and reliable, even during alpine winters, so there should be no excuse for being late.
Office hours are typically 08.00-17.00 Monday through Thursday with a short break for lunch, typically just 30 minutes; on Friday afternoon most businesses close early usually by 15.00. In Vienna, though, the working day tends to start and finish an hour later. The preferred times for appointments are 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-17.00.
You should avoid planning business meetings for August or any time near the Christmas holidays when many Austrians schedule lengthy trips. Similarly, good snow at any time between December and April is likely to tempt a nation of enthusiastic skiers to head for the Alps.
Austria is a Catholic country and so observes the customary religious festivals.

First Name or Title?

It is most unlikely that an Austrian will ever address you by your first name unless you become extremely well acquainted outside the office and you should follow suit by using the courtesy titles Herr ['Mr'], Frau ['Mrs'] or Fräulein ['Miss'] followed by the surname until invited to do otherwise.
The use of first names is a sign of intimacy and social or professional equality and you should not presume to undermine an elaborate system of mutual respect by suggesting to an elder or superior that you might adopt informal Anglo-Saxon practice. An Austrian businessman will introduce himself with his surname only and the appearance of his first name on his business card is not a signal to start using it.
There is no equivalent of 'Ms' in German; so, as in many other European languages, there is a growing tendency to use Frau as a mark of respect for a woman's professional standing regardless of her marital status and to restrict the use of Fräulein to girls and young women. Similarly it is old-fashioned and increasingly unacceptable to address waitresses as Fräulein, even though many older Austrians persist in the habit.
Moreover it is considered rude to refer to a third person even in their absence by his or her surname alone.
The protocol for letters, faxes, and even e-mails is also strictly formal.
Status and hierarchy are an important part of all Austrian culture. Austrians are very title-conscious. If someone holds academic or professional qualifications conferring the title of professor, doctor, or lawyer, for example, you should be sure to address that person using both the equivalent of 'Mr' etc. and the person's title plus his or her last name.
Occasionally you may encounter highly qualified and/or much honored Austrians with several titles, in which case all should be used, at least at the outset and in writing, eg. Herr Professor Doktor Schmidt. The rules of precedence for such an array of titles may seem obscure to a foreigner but the correct order will be made clear on a business card, letterhead etc. It is not unknown to find oneself in the company of a professor with three doctorates, which can be something of a mouthful.
Even when Austrians are on first-name terms with someone in private, it is still standard practice to maintain the formal niceties at work, if only in front of other members of staff, both junior and senior.

Gift Giving

In general, gifts are not casually exchanged in business. However, in the event that an Austrian presents you with a gift, you should have one or more small presents with you, so that you can reciprocate immediately. Your gift will be opened in front of you, rather than in private, and you should do the same if you receive something.
Gifts should be moderate and unassuming. Books describing your hometown or country, a local product, e.g. scotch or bourbon, or a local artifact, e.g. porcelain or silverware, all make good gifts when exchanged in an office setting.
It is very unusual for an outsider to be invited into an Austrian's home but, if you are, you should go with gifts in hand for your host, his or her spouse and their children. A bottle of vintage wine, (French) champagne (not German Sekt) or brandy would make a good gift for your host and high-quality chocolates or a spray of flowers -- not chrysanthemums, white lilies or red roses-- are suitable gifts for your hostess.
Perhaps as a remnant of eastern influences, it is appropriate for trusted, close business colleagues to give each other gifts at holiday-times or to celebrate the completion of an important and successful business deal. Suitable gifts include brandies, spirits, or something that reflects your homeland or the personal tastes and preferences of the recipient, as long as the gift is of high quality and not normally obtainable in Austria.

Source

A summary of this information can be found at Executive Planet.
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