WORKWEEK

Business hours are generally 8:00 or 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 or 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. Late-afternoon appointments are not unusual, but try not to schedule appointments on Friday afternoons; some offices close early. Many people take long vacations during July, August, and December, so check first to see if your counterpart will be available. Also be aware that little work gets done during regional festivals, such as Oktoberfest or the three-day Carnival before Lent.

Germans have been known to have shorter workweeks than many other countries, but this is offset by Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP), which is consistently in the top five worldwide. The expansion of the German workweek has been under discussion as well, due to the recovering economy, but whether it is during an abbreviated 37.5-hour or an extended 42-hour week, make sure that your meeting with German prospects will be an efficient, orderly use of their time.