When a Dutch manager gives an ‘order’ to one of his or her colleagues it is always (no, there is no exception) met with the – one word only – question; “Why?”
Could you make those photocopies for me? Why?
Can you help me move those boxes? Why?
I would like to turn up (or down) the heating a bit. Why?
Could you close the door? Why?
All of these are simple requests , or ‘orders’, that can be heard in an office every day. In the Netherlands however, to each of these requests, the Dutch employee will reply using that one word; Why?
Why is that?
