Exploring a New Culture: Adapting to an Unfamiliar Location - Free Essay Example

Introduction

Culture defines social behavior, customs, and ideas that are specific to people of a given location. Culture is the manifestation of the preferences that people have expressed through their lifestyles. Cultures of different people and places differ because of the other priorities and influences that affect their day-to-day activities. When an employee leaves a familiar location to an unfamiliar one on assignment, there is the need to familiarize themself with the essential aspects of the new environment they will be interacting with. In this case, an employee is living in a familiar country to go to work in Canada. There are various aspects in Canada the employee needs to know about to make it easier for them to settle. With the relevant information, the employee will plan to adjust, enabling them to settle better. Therefore, there is a highlight of the various essential aspects that will affect the employees during their transition to Canada.

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A Short Introduction to the Country

Canada is located in North America, bordering Alaska to its Northwest and the Pacific Ocean to its western side. Canada has an incredible landscape, which is quite captivating to work with, given the exciting attributes. There are beautiful lakes and rivers, which add to the stunning look of the country. Furthermore, there are many forested valleys with rolling plains, all of which add to the beautiful landscape. Moreover, Canada boasts some of the oldest rocks and physical features in the world. Canada's history stretches to when it was inhabited by Paleo-Indians thousands of years ago (Francis, 1997). Later, there was the first set of Europeans who came to Canada, starting their influence locally. Later in 1604, there was the establishment of the Royal New France. In 1776, 13 colonies sought independence from the present period in the United States. Following a series of events in the struggle for governance and control, there was the formation of Lower and Upper Canada, which formed the basis of present-day Canada's existence.

In Canada, most people are Catholics, practicing Catholicism, with over a 70% majority. Therefore, most of Canada's activities and cultural attributes are based on the catholic religion because of the majority membership. The catholic faith was brought to Canada during colonialism by Christians. A federal system and democracy are the basis of the political framework in Canada. The monarch is the head of state; based on the constitutional monarchy system of governance. Canada has political stability, based on ideologies that foster their peoples' welfare, making it one of the best countries to work and live. Initially, there were conflicts because of leadership struggles. However, lately, there is less conflict because of the political climate. Regarding trade, Canada has numerous free trade agreements with many countries and regions. That makes it efficient to transfer factors of production into and out of the country.

Local Customs

For an employee to work in Canada, one must familiarize oneself with the local customs for their convenience. An essential part of the traditions is the languages that are most commonly used by people. The most common language is English, which is a formal means of communication and instruction. Therefore, when an employee is fluent in English, they will have an easier time settling and working in Canada. However, basic English, coupled with the right attitude to learn better, will be essential for their settling and work. The second most important language used for communication in Canada is French. There is a history of French influence in Canada, which informs the increased use of the language. Therefore, when an employee is fluent in English and French, they will have a great time settling there. At work, communication is essential, highlighting the need for the employee to know the language that most people use in Canada.

Traditions are the other essential aspect that a new employee needs to know about Canada, which will help in their social life. There is a set of the most popular festivals associated with the Canadian tradition. First, the Vancouver Celebration of Light was celebrated on several nights in Vancouver (Arthurs, 2001). It is one of the most effective practices; based on urban adventure and locals' traditions. Moreover, there is the Calgary Stampede, celebrated as one of the most captivating outdoor events. Old-fashioned hospitality and ancient Canadian culture form the basis of the celebration, celebrated for a long time. There is also the Edmonton Folk Festival, which has a great history from 1980. Visitors need to get to know the traditional leisure in Canada. Other festivals include the Toronto International Film Festival, Canada Day Celebrations, and the Montreal Jazz Fest, among many more.

What to Expect

Expectations of a new region form an essential factor to consider when sending an employee to the location. When an employee has valid and real expectations of a new region, there is an increase in the likelihood of getting acquainted with the place better. An employee needs to have adequate knowledge about the local currency, which in this case, is the Canadian Dollar. The exchange rates should be known with certainty to enhance better plans for their finances as they settle in the new location. For example, when an employee is coming from the United States, they need to know the exchange rate between the Canadian and United States dollars. The other essential aspect of forming a basis of expectations is the transport network in the country. There is a wide variety of options one can choose from like the train, bus, and subway. A prospective traveler buys tickets from significant transit stations, convenience stores, or appointed agents. It is better when the tickets are purchased in bulk in advance to enjoy discounted offers. In the cities, the bus is the most commonly used transportation mode because of the flexibility and many routes served. Individual needs to be conversant with their travel routes and destinations to enable them to plan effectively for their travel needs.

For food, there are various grocery stores or grocery sections in convenience stores. There is a wide variety of food items sold there, which is quite convenient for a buyer. There are various service providers, like Foothills Medical Centre and the Hamilton General Hospital, which are some of the biggest brands for health needs. During times of emergency, different toll-free numbers can be called 1-800-394-3472 or 613-944-1310. Housing costs differ depending on the type of house and its location. For example, in Vancouver, housing is in the range of $ 821,555 and $ 576,292 for Toronto. For working hours, employees do a 30-hour week, which may differ depending on employer and work type. To protect employee rights, unionization is strong, making Canada a great place for an employee to offer services (Card et al., 2020). There are some differences between working in the United States and Canada. The difference is in aspects like drug and alcohol testing, Employment Dispute Resolution, and Termination of Employment. More information on what to expect can be obtained from local advisory websites for free.

A List of What Is Needed To Work in the Country

There are various regulations about how an employee starts working in Canada, which prevents unregistered employees from working there. First, there is the requirement of the employer Labour Market Impact Assessment from the Canadian local authorities. Employment and Social Development Canada will analyze the employer's skills and the job requirements to ascertain whether there is a need for the employer to be permitted to work in Canada (Hawthorne, 2016). After the decision is made to accept the foreign employer, special work permits are processed for the employer. The reason for the procedure is to avoid the importation of employees for jobs that can be done by some local employees.

First, there is a need for the employee to have a Canadian work visa, which allows them to offer their professional services. There is an Employment, and Social Development Canada tasked with allowing employees to work in Canada. Before an employee arrives in Canada, there should be an approved employment contract to ensure the reason they are going into the country is based on a contract of services. Furthermore, the employee should have personal identification documents as they travel to Canada. They will be needed to identify themselves, which will require them to have their personal documents as a formality.

Conclusion

When working in a foreign country, there are various factors that an individual may need to consider for their convenience. There should be surveys conducted by the employee to ensure that they will face minimal disruptions in their service delivery when they work in the country. However, the work can be outsourced to experts in foreign countries, which will significantly help them. The responsibility to ensure an employee's convenience is partly in the hands of the employer and the employee.

References

Arthurs, H. W. (2001). National traditions in labor law scholarship: The Canadian case. Comp. Lab. L. & Pol'y J., 23, 645. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/cllpj23&div=38&id=&page=

Card, D., Lemieux, T., & Riddell, W. C. (2020). Unions and wage inequality: The roles of gender, skill and public sector employment. Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, 53(1), 140-173. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/caje.12432

Francis, D. (1997). National dreams: Myth, memory, and Canadian history. Arsenal Pulp Press. https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/abs/10.3138/CHR-035-01-01?journalCode=chr

Hawthorne, L. (2016). Foreign credential recognition and assessment: An introduction. Available at SSRN 2808951. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2808951