Lao Ban? Can I expense laundry on this business trip?

By Vida Zhang Fargis

Bottom line: If you’re on a business trip for your company, you are an ambassador, and you can’t smell bad.

I was at a big technology show in the North East USA. I had an appointment to meet up with some director level guys from a famous Chinese startup, gone big. After a bit of phone tag we finally got together in the main lobby. I walked over and extended my hand to shake. Then, it hit me. The smell. Let’s call them Xiao Li, Xiao Liu and Lao Ma. These guys had significant positions of responsibility in a premier Chinese technology company. They’d beat out millions for the positions in school to allow them to compete for these positions in business. Their company had flown them 12,000 miles to attend this conference. And they smelled like two week old laundry.

What happened?

Well, they hadn’t thought to do their laundry. They probably passed on a shower that morning, as well. They obviously didn’t think it mattered. I obviously thought it did. And realistically, most people at the show, who exchanged more then five words with them, must have noticed . . . they had foul body odor.

Whose to blame here?

First off any international professional has to take responsibility for his or her self. It has to start with the individual. If you don’t address personal hygiene, others will notice. On international business, wear fresh clothes everyday, and shower everyday. If you don’t people will notice.

Secondly, there is a systemic problem with Chinese companies that are “penny wise and pound foolish.” I suspect that this company did not encourage these guys to pay for laundry services on their business trips. “What? Pay $35.00 for laundry on your expense report? NO WAY. Wash your clothes in the sink! Save the company money!” That’s fine for the $35.00 you save, but what about the damage to your brand? Chinese and other companies from newly industrialized economies must realize that these costs are small compared to the potential damage from public perceptions of foul smelling ambassadors. You spent over $12,000.00 to fly them over the ocean and put them up in a hotel. Encourage them to get their clothes cleaned. Expense it!

Finally, the fault lies with me and perhaps with you. I held my nose and said nothing. These weren’t my friends or family. It wasn’t my responsibility. But they were my countrymen. They were Chinese ambassadors. And I did feel embarrassed for them and for my country. I perhaps, should have had the courage to raise the matter, however discretely. In this case, I bowed out and thought about the matter quietly. But certainly, the more brave thing, might have been to say something, in a direct way. How else are we all to grow?

A Few Points to Consider

- Western companies expect high levels of personal hygiene. This is not to be confused with “Silicon Valley Casual.” Personal hygiene does not mean wearing a suit. And you can wear a suit and still smell bad! Personal hygiene has to do with regular washing of ones body, hair and clothes.

- Chinese may not be accustomed to changing their clothes everyday. While a change of clothes is certainly encouraged, if for whatever reason one can’t, one must be sure to clean their clothes, before wearing them twice. Washing in the sink is not likely to be sufficient. It may sound pedantic, but please, just because it smells OK to you doesn’t mean it doesn’t smell LIKE YOU to everyone else.

- I once heard a European friend with one of the big four accounting firms (Beijing office) saying “it’s just hard for me to click with Chinese colleagues at my office. They wear the same clothing every day and don’t change.” Consider how off-putting it can be to others, to maintain what seems like reasonable habits. It’s your image. Do what you like, but beware of the consequences.

Historically China suffered from so many issues which have imbued such behavior as normal among many Chinese people. Our parents grew up in war time, our resources were scarce, we learned to cope with so little and there were more important things to worry about than how one smelled. But if the world is truly flat today, and global competition is allowing for things our parents would never have dreamed of, than we must analyze this new level playing field. Taking a bath everyday and changing ones clothes everyday is what is normal in the eyes of the westerners. If you’re going to venture out into the land of “westerners” and do business with them, on their terms, you’d better understand the impact you have with your unwitting behavior.

We all bring the habits inherited from family and society into our modern personal and professional life. We must retain our sense of dignity and distinction. But we can not compromise a certain degree of accommodation, in order to deal effectively and equally with others at an international level.

“Room service? I have some laundry for pickup . . .”