Germans not socialising with colleagues?

[Cheroote]

I know Germany pretty well and lived there as a student and as a teenager.

However, I never worked there as an adult.

I’m now living in the UK and have a really nice German boss. However, he refuses to give anyone his phone number for work kind of WhatsApp groups, (even though in certain instances it would be really beneficial for him), and also doesn’t socialise with colleagues at all. Is this a personal thing or is this a German culture that work And Personal life don’t cross?

I don't give my number to work colleagues either. I choose to just socialise with friends. It's not just a German thing.

My British bosses never gave me their phone number or socialised in any way. It's not a German attitude but a way of being boss.

I'm English and don't like socialising with colleagues or joining work WhatsApps.

That’s not what I’m asking.

im aware of that.

In our line of work it’s really unusual because having your phone number could save you loads of hassle.

I see what you mean about the boss thing, but he’s only a line manager, not a mega boss
And not known for throwing his weight around or thinking is above us

Is this a separate work phone or a personal one, surely if it is beneficial for work it's on work phones so nothing to do with personal stuff.

@timetodecide2345 yes in our line of work it’s very common for colleagues to be friends and even very close friends for decades.

we don’t have work phones. Sometimes in case of emergency family disasters et cetera is sometimes just good to be able to let your boss know.

Although obviously personal choice obv

he chooses not to - was just idle speculation if this was his character or more of a national culture thing.

Being a line manager doesn't mean that colleagues need a 24/7 number.
It's his/her right not to hand out private numbers and not to socialise. It's pretty common in UK.

Lol

is anyone on here German? 😀

Why?
The attitude isn't based on your boss being German. It's quite normal in UK.

It’s nothing to do with him being German and it’s verging on prejudicial that you’re assuming his nationality has anything to do with it. Many people keep their personal and professional lives strictly separate.

Of course pointing out cultural differences isn’t racist
French people kiss each other on the cheek. That’s not expected in the uk. That’s a difference.

But your boss isn't behaving with a cultural difference?

That’s what I’m asking.
is German workplace culture different?
you're saying it’s normal in the UK, I am replying that in my kind of work it’s not normal. Other colleagues are surprised but obv respectful of his choice

I don't get how you expect people to hand out private numbers for colleagues.
It has nothing to do with German work culture.

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

I've found this online: "Unless you are very close friends, you should not call people late in the evening. If you will be working in Germany, it is essential to learn the German business culture. You should not call your colleagues after office hours or on the weekend. German people like to keep their private and business lives separate."

This also applies for U.K. work culture surely

I work with German colleagues and they were clear when they joined the team that work and personal life are kept entirely separate. It is definitely a cultural thing.

Is it very different from most British workplaces?

Not sure why you'd expect your boss to hand out their personal phone number, or any colleague for that matter. Another tick for my liking of German ways, if this is indeed a 'German thing'. 🇩🇪👍

I've been living in Germany for over 20 years and am from the UK. Germans do make friends at work but it's at a much slower pace than in the UK. We also only use the work friend (Freund\Freundin) for very close friendships. Everybody else is a Bekannte which translates as aquantance but could mean somebody you're know well for years.