Wales

Greetings

Man greeting Man - Men shake hands when greeting one another and usually throw in a "How do you do." Handshakes are usually on the lighter side and don't linger that much

Woman greeting Woman- At a first meeting, women generally shake hands. Good friends will often share a kiss on the cheek or a light hug.

Man greeting Woman- At a first meeting a regular handshake will do. Women tend to extend their hand first. Some good friends may share a kiss on the cheek or a light hug.

Communication Style

• Being polite is highly valued. Expect a lot of "please" and "thank you" and "sorry".
• The Welsh tend to be more indirect than overly direct. Being too blunt may be considered impolite in many situations.
• Pay attention to tone of voice and facial expression as it may be an indication of what is really being conveyed.

Personal Space & Touch

• The Welsh tend to keep about an 2-3 feet between them while speaking and touching is usually kept to a minimum.
• Family members are more relaxed and familiar with each other, so touching of the arms, elbows, or hands is acceptable. However in a business environment, touching is very minimal and personal space is respected much more than in a family setting.

Eye Contact

• Direct eye contact is generally maintained during conversations, but not to the point of staring.
• Looking away when an someone is speaking is usually viewed as disrespectful.

Gestures

• An inverted two-finger "peace sign" or "V " for victory sign is an obscenity.
• People tend to walk on the left and pass on the right
• Tapping the side of the forehead means you are stupid, not smart.

Views of Time

• Being prompt is the way to go. Deadlines and schedules tend to be important in business situations.
• In social situations, it is not usually considered polite to keep someone waiting.

Gender Roles

• Work opportunities for women are varied and available yet earnings maybe lower.
• It’s usually acceptable for women to dine alone and to go to local pubs and clubs.
• Women usually cross their legs at the knee or ankle.

Taboos

• Cutting in line or breaking the "queue" is not generally accepted.
• Loud talking and shouting in public is usually considered bad form.

Law & Order

• The legal drinking age to purchase alcohol at a bar or liquor store is 18. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds may consume beer, wine, porter, cider, or sherry with a meal in an eating area on licensed premises if they are in the company of an adult and the adult purchases the alcohol.
• The legal smoking age is 16 and is not that heavily enforced.
• Penalties for possession, acquisition, and trafficking of drugs are severe and include mandatory lengthy imprisonment in local jails.

Dress

• For Men: conservative, dark or medium colored suits with shirts and conservative ties.
• For Women: stylish yet classic business suits or dresses and blouses. Accessories are usually worn.
• Jeans and business casual attire may be appropriate depending on the industry.

Titles & Business Cards

• Titles are important and it is best to address people directly by using Mr., Mrs., or Miss, followed by the surname. Note that these are spelled without the. throughout the country.
• One should always wait to be invited to use first names before doing so yourself.
• Business cards are essential and are usually exchanged. There is no set protocol but it is always advisable to treat the card with respect.

Meetings

• When doing business direct questions often receive evasive responses.
• Arriving on time for a meeting is important as punctuality is valued and first impressions go a long way.
• Business meetings tend to be structured but not too formal, beginning and ending with a bit of small talk.

Negotiations

• Decisions tend to be made from the top down and can take sometime.
• Humor is often used in negotiations, sometimes as a defense mechanism or in the form of self-deprecation and/or irony.
• Avoid hard selling and any sort of conflict or confrontation.

Gift Giving

• Gifts are not usually exchanged at a first meeting.
• If invited to a Welsh household, it is appropriate to bring good wine, liquor, or chocolates/pastries.
• Make sure that gifts are nicely wrapped.