By Jona Caniels 

‘’Jona, on a des cadeaux pour toi!’’ This was the first thing my colleague enthusiastically yelled at me when I arrived at work two weeks ago. I was curious and went up to him to see what he was talking about. He gave me some small presents like a keychain, a lighter, a beer opener and a package of chewing gum. I asked him afterwards what all this was about. He answered by pointing out to a folder of a union for employees and said that the elections were coming up and everybody had to get ready to vote because election day is coming soon! Not really interested as I was, I received the presents and started my daily tasks. 

As election day was coming closer though, my interest increased. All members of the operational staff were talking about it. I went up to one of my colleagues to ask why this is so important to them. She answered by saying that they want to feel enforced when the employer does wrong. After she said this, I began to understand why this meant so little to me and so much to them. Me, as a Dutch guy, never felt the need to join a union. Not even when I worked fulltime. Why? Because I have always been on good terms with my employers. In my previous jobs in The Netherlands, I have never felt a great power distance between me and my bosses. In Belgium however, power distance is something that naturally exists. To give an example, most people here fear the GM. When he walks by, they all straighten their backs and act like they are working. When they disagree on something they don’t share it with our GM so something can be done. Instead, they discuss it between themselves. Comparing Dutch and Belgian power distances according to Hofstede illustrates this great difference as well: 38 respectively 65. 

After having talked to my colleagues about this election day and the importance of it to them and comparing it to my previous experience, I understood their huge interest in it. A combination of a great power distance and being more collectivistic makes the Belgians wake up early to go vote for a union. A union makes them feel united so they can enforce their rights together, if needed. Whereas most Dutch people feel strong enough against their employer on their own. These cultural differences certainly made election days more interesting and as long as it comes with presents, I don’t mind more election days in the future.