What to wear
Italians are well-known for being fashionable. The way you dress in the corporate setting also has a great impact on how people will view you. The locals often correlate dressing with a person’s social status and success, so better be mindful of what you wear. In the office and during meetings, both men and women may be seen in formal attire, with men wearing dark-colored suits over neutral colored shirts and formal trousers. Women are also expected to wear elegant dresses, most specially at meetings. The type of fabric you wear is also significant to Italians. Dresses or clothing made of lightweight wool and silk are the one being seen as elegance and of quality. Always present yourself well-kept. Putting light make up and simple jewelry is also a plus.

What to bring
In the Italian business culture, giving of gifts is not commonly practiced, unless you’ve already developed a familiar and good relationship with your counterpart. Still, gifts should be small and not expensive, otherwise it might be taken as a bribe. In small gatherings that are not meant for business, you may bring a token as a gift to the host. The gift may just be liquor, delicacies, or craft. Don’t forget to bring a card that contains your information. Business cards may be given at any time during a meeting. Your business card should contain details such as company name, name, business position, contact numbers, and other professional titles.

What to expect
Unlike other European countries where punctuality is seen as very important, expect Italians to have some delays. Being punctual is not a big issue for the locals, and even business decisions may take some time. Business plans aren’t also strictly followed. Italians lean more to being flexible with corporate dealings and execution. Don’t get offended with delays and flexibility in plans for these are just the way Italians are.

What you should know
The corporate structure in an Italian company is quite hierarchical. There is a clear distinction between rank-and-file employees and those that are in the executive department. Decisions are also being made at the top-management level, and lower ranking individuals respect decisions that are already made.

Although 38% of Italian women below the age of 65 are able to participate in the labor force, there is a noticeable gap between gender in Italy. It is becoming common that females are able to have high-ranking positions in organizations, however, there are still more males being hired in higher positions than females. But don’t worry, females are very welcome to work in the office, and there have been no rising issues in terms of varying compensation between sexes.

Some of the things you should take note of when you work in Italy are the vacation leaves you are entitled to have. Check out the types of leaves being given in Italy: