Hierarchical Society

http://telenoticias.com.do/funcionarios-del-gobierno-dicen-tener-buenas-expectativas-con-relacion-la-rendicion-de-cuentas-de-danilo-medina

Family, religion, and small talk are central to the Dominican life and it extends to the workplace. Though coming into a new country we have to be aware of the way Dominicans manage their teams and businesses. As a leader I am curious to know if they will come to me if they have a problem or will stay quiet. I also want to know how they will respect my authority or even be open minded to new ideas.

On the Hofstede website it scored the Dominican Republic with a high of 65 for Power Distance.This means that the Dominican Republic is a hierarchical society. The people that live in this country live and respect their higher authority. They also accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. Subordinates expect to be told what to do. There is a huge distinction between upper and lower class in the Dominican Republic as well. It is so sad but true.

Generally, the whiter your skin, the higher the class you are, and vice versa for being darker. Being white is considered a mark of beauty. There are even discos or clubs that don’t let darker skinned people in, but if they are with the upper class whites it is ok. The upper class when dealing with different classes is kind and helpful, but will not attempt to develop friendships with people who do not live a similar lifestyle.

http://www.donquijote.org/culture/dominican-republic/society/

     Unfortunately there is a separation between classes but as a foreigner don’t be discouraged when doing business in the Dominican Republic. Dominicans do work very hard and always try to their best to succeed. This can positively affect the workplace because they are good at listening and getting their tasks done on time. 


    If you’re a manager that is a non-local, they are generally given much respect as foreigners are respected greatly in the Dominican. As a global leader with strong character and confidence it is commonly looked upon with much respect, and definitely will help the person get ahead in their company.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/12/world/dominican-republic-haiti-immigration/

  It’s also important to know as a leader that Dominicans in the workplace usually act friendly and respectful. Generally, though a boss or superior should not interact with their employees in their homes or outside of work unless it is work related. This is frowned upon here as it breaks the professionalism in the relationship. Decisions are usually made by superiors. It is always best to consult your superior before taking actions that will impact the company.

 Most employees are "doers" and carry out their tasks without asking a lot of questions. There are also people who will take on tasks that they are not able to do. When this happens, they will ask their colleagues to help them. If there are problems in the workplace, it is not uncommon for an employee to confide in their supervisor to help resolve the problem. 

  

Dominicans like to do things are their own even if they don’t know how to do it. They pride themselves in their work, so they may not always tell you that there is problem. The main reason why they really do this isn’t because they can’t trust you , its more that they want you to see they can do it all by themselves without help. I think that this very important to know as a global leader , so you can better understand your team if an issue were to occur.

In conclusion, as a global leader though is best to confront people in private to avoid bruising their ego. It is often difficult to know when colleagues are having problems with you because there can a bit of hypocrisy in the workplace. Alternatively, you may hear rumors about some "unhappy" or disappointed employees, in which in this case you make take it to your own hands to resolve the situation.

https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/ci-ic_do.aspx?lang=eng