Working in Bogota: office culture and business etiquette

The author of this guide lived and worked in Colombia. Bogotá is the country's political and business capital, and its office culture is more formal than many Americans expect from a Latin American city. Relationships carry a lot of weight, Spanish is the working language in most companies, and the legal framework for working hours and holidays is set nationally. This guide combines general workplace observations with the official rules and the US Commerce Department's guidance for doing business in Colombia.

Formality comes first

The US International Trade Administration's country commercial guide for Colombia advises formal dress for daytime business meetings, especially in Bogotá and Medellín, with evening events more relaxed but still professional. Bogotá's cool climate makes suits and jackets practical year round, and many offices keep a conservative standard even when the dress code is "business casual".

Forms of address follow the same pattern:

• Use titles and surnames at first: "doctor" or "doctora" is common for professionals with a university degree, not only physicians, and "ingeniero" for engineers.
• Use "usted" until the other person moves to "tú". In Bogotá, usted is common even among colleagues who know each other well.
• Greet everyone in the room when you arrive, and say goodbye when you leave. A handshake is standard in first meetings.

Relationships before transactions

The trade.gov guide notes that Colombians build business relationships through in-person meetings, breakfasts, lunches and networking events, and value trust, personalized service and follow-up. In practice, first meetings often start with conversation about family, travel or the city before the agenda. Cutting that short to "get to business" can read as cold.

Practical habits that help:

• Ask for an introduction through a mutual contact rather than sending cold emails where possible.
• Follow up a meeting with a call or a message, not only an email.
• Lunch meetings are common and can run long. Do not book a tight slot right after.
• Use Spanish-language materials. The trade.gov guide recommends them for marketing and sales.

Meetings and punctuality

The trade.gov guide advises being punctual while allowing time for small talk. Bogotá traffic is a real factor: a cross-city trip at rush hour can take far longer than the map suggests, and many professionals plan their day around it. Video calls have reduced some of that, and hybrid work is common in larger companies.

Decisions often move up the hierarchy. A meeting that goes well may still need approval from a senior manager who was not in the room. Be patient with follow-up and ask who else needs to be involved.

Working hours and the law

Colombia's Labor Code sets the maximum ordinary working week, and Law 2101 of 2021 reduces it gradually without reducing pay. The Ministry of Labor's schedule: 47 hours from July 15, 2023, 46 hours from July 15, 2024, 44 hours from July 15, 2025, and 42 hours from July 15, 2026. The law allows the week to be spread over five or six days by agreement, always with a rest day. Hours beyond the ordinary limit are overtime, paid with the surcharges set in the Labor Code.

For a foreign employee on a Colombian contract, this means:

• Your contract states your schedule, which must fit the legal maximum.
• Overtime, night work and Sunday or holiday work carry surcharges.
• The employer's internal work regulations (reglamento interno de trabajo) describe start and end times and breaks.

Remote workers employed by US companies are not covered by these rules in the same way; their US contract governs. See working in Colombia for which visa covers each type of work.

Pay and benefits you will hear about

Colombian employment includes elements that do not exist in US payroll, such as the "prima de servicios" (a service bonus), "cesantías" (a severance savings fund) and interest on cesantías. The national minimum wage for 2026 is COP 1,750,905 per month under Decree 159 of 2026, with a transport allowance for workers who qualify. Many visa thresholds, including those for the pension and digital nomad visas, are expressed in multiples of the minimum wage.

Holidays and the calendar

Colombia has many public holidays, and a large share of them are moved to Monday, creating long weekends. Business slows sharply around Holy Week (Semana Santa) and from mid-December into early January, when many people take vacation. Plan launches, contract signings and government procedures around those periods.

Communication style

Colombian professionals tend to be polite and indirect in disagreement. A "sí" may mean "I heard you" rather than "I agree", and a "let's see" (vamos a ver) can signal doubt. Ask open questions and confirm decisions in writing after the meeting. Direct criticism in front of others is uncomfortable; deliver it privately.

WhatsApp is a standard business tool in Colombia for coordinating meetings, sending documents and quick follow-ups. Expect clients and colleagues to use it, and set your own boundaries for after-hours messages.

Gifts and invitations

The trade.gov guide suggests gifts are better suited to social settings or home invitations than to business meetings. If invited to someone's home, bring something modest such as wine, chocolates or flowers. The same guide notes that some flowers, such as lilies and marigolds, are associated with funerals, so choose different flowers.

Practical checklist for your first month in a Bogotá office

• Confirm your visa category covers the job before your first day.
• Get your Cédula de Extranjería, because payroll, health enrollment and the bank account all need it.
• Learn the formal Spanish for email openings and closings.
• Keep business cards. They are still exchanged at first meetings.
• Map your commute at the hour you will actually travel.

Contracts and payroll basics

Colombian employment contracts can be fixed-term or indefinite, and they must be in writing for fixed terms. Payroll runs through the Colombian social security system, with contributions for health, pension and occupational risk. Ask your employer for:

1. A copy of your signed contract and the internal work regulations.
2. Confirmation of your EPS (health), pension fund and ARL (occupational risk) enrollment.
3. The schedule of payments: monthly or biweekly salary, and when the service bonus and severance fund deposits are made.

Keep your payslips. You will need them for visa renewals, a bank account, rental applications and both countries' tax returns. If you work for a Colombian employer while also earning US income, track each source separately from the start.

Building a professional network

Chambers of commerce and university alumni networks host events in Bogotá. The trade.gov guide points to in-person networking as a core part of business. LinkedIn is widely used in Colombian corporate circles, with profiles in Spanish. Professional associations in regulated fields such as engineering, law and medicine also matter, because those professions require a Colombian license before you can practice.

Common questions

How formal is business dress in Bogotá? More formal than in many US offices. The US trade guide for Colombia recommends formal dress for daytime meetings, especially in Bogotá and Medellín.

What is the legal working week in Colombia? Under Law 2101 of 2021 the maximum ordinary week fell to 44 hours on July 15, 2025 and to 42 hours on July 15, 2026, spread over five or six days with a rest day.

Should I use tú or usted at work in Colombia? Use usted with people you do not know well and wait for the other person to switch. In Bogotá, usted is common even between long-time colleagues.