Did you know...? 3% of Turkey is in Europe, and 97% is in Asia.
It is common to greet each other by handshake. The following small talk can be about sports, or Turkish culture. It is likely to address your Turkish co-workers and colleagues with their first names.
Many Turks take personal relations very seriously and pay a lot attention to verbal and non-verbal behaviour. For example, you should never disrespect family members. It is impolite to point something out with your finger, or doing the ‘Ok sign’ (index finger and thumb create an O or a circle). It is quite common that Turks will stand very close to you while talking, which is a habit that expresses interest and their attention to you.
The communication is not only based on politeness and respect for each other, it also requires numerous hand and arm gestures as well as loud voices. To pass critique or to talk about a problem you should stay polite and respectful and explain the situation properly.
The working days can vary and are dependent on the company. Due to the heat over the summer months, it is likely that many companies start and finish work earlier. Turkish employers value punctuality and expect international workers or trainees to be on time.