Did you know ...? More than 60% of Austria is covered by the Alps.
It is common to greet each other with a firm handshake. Physical contact is not very important for business communication. It is rather hand gestures and facial expressions (especially eye contact) that help leaving a good first impression. To address your manager and your colleagues correctly, you should use their surnames until they invite you to address them by first name. Anyway, these invitations might vary from person to person and you cannot expect everyone to do so. Small talk is not a really important part at work. But if you want to break the ice, you can talk about Austrian culture, the weather, or food.
The workplace is often characterised by a strong hierarchy between manager and employees. In many cases, the position is defined by actual qualification and the ability to lead. Most companies are professional and rather conventional.
Many Austrians are proud of their contribution to society with their profession. Therefore, the work has a relatively high value. Working overtime is quite common for Austrian employees. A workday lasts up to eight hours and includes breaks and lunchtime. According to the traditional working environment, punctuality is required.