In the process of transitioning from one institution or workplace to another, people often encounter new interactional norms and values. For those moving countries as well as workplaces, the transition may involve different cultural and societal norms and values; but even a move between organisations or workplace teams within a country may present formidable challenges. Focussing on the New Zealand value of egalitarianism, in particular, the analysis in this paper demonstrates the range of ways in which this societal norm is instantiated in New Zealand workplace talk, and discusses the problems this poses for newcomers.