Working Life > Business Behaviour > Carnival

Carnival at Work

Definition, Explanation

Stronghold cities of Carnival become a madhouse when the time arrives, even at workplaces, when in other regions, people continue working as normal. Whether and how it is celebrated, maybe even with a company party, depends primarily on the company. Generally, Carnival Monday (Shrove Monday) and Shrove Tuesday are not Holidays, however it can be agreed differently by collective agreements or be valid as a long standing company’s practice. If not, you have to take vacation in order to run riot on Carnival.

Tips, Checklist

• A popular custom on Women’s Carnival Day (Weiberfastnacht) is the cutting of ties. Be careful with this hoax and new employees or business visitors, especially in regions in which Carnival is not as popular
• In case the employer explicitly interdicts cutting ties, you should follow this
• The employer can also put up rules for clothing. As long as it does not disturb somebody, you are allowed to masquerade as you please. In case of doubt, ask colleagues what was praxis in the previous years
• Even if you are a Carnival-hater, you are recommended to slightly adapt to customs in a Carnival-mad company. Join the celebration, or you might get into the position of an outsider. An alternative is to escape the madness by taking vacation
• Even in the freakiest madness of Carnival, do not loose control of your behaviour. It might result in situations that you regret the other day and that can harm your career

Last update: 06/07/2010