In today's ultra-competitive business environment, an increasing number of Taiwanese companies are boosting employee morale and enhancing productivity by investing not only in the latest technology and gadgetry, but by investing in the workers themselves.
Subscribing to the notion that happy employees lead to greater profits, many companies in Taiwan are coming up with new ways to show workers that they care. Some corporations are allotting more money for departmental activities such as year-end parties and family outings while others are offering workers additional services and non-monetary perks.
Keeping employees motivated amid growing unemployment and global recession is a daunting task and for many corporations, simply staying in business is as much as they can do. But a recent Gallup poll found a direct correlation exists between employee satisfaction and company strength, prompting considerable outlay on activities that companies hope will improve the quality of life for their employees.
PHOTO: AARNE HEIKKILA
Team building exercises were an integral part of corporate America's business strategy during the plush years of the late 1990s. Many corporations hired business consultants to orchestrate team building exercises that ranged from the absurd (inflatable sumo wrestling) to the dangerous (walking on hot coals) -- all in the hope of increasing office productivity and facilitating communication.
In what has become a sign of the times, many employees are working longer hours under increasingly stressful conditions while getting compensated less in return. Family dynamics can suffer as a result and for United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), this is the element they have decided to focus on.
At UMC, one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers, family day enables employees and their loved ones to participate in various games and activities at the company's headquarters in Hsinchu. The event is held to educate family members on UMC's company culture and overall mission and serves as an opportunity for families to meet and socialize with one another in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
China Airlines also encourages its employees to bring along family members to company outings and office parties. Every department receives an activities budget which enables team members and their families to take part in leisure activities such as mountain climbing, biking and swimming. According to company officials, activities such as these are useful in building company morale and fostering teamwork. Including spouses and children in these types of activities is a way for the company to show family members that they care. "We understand that the families of our employees are tolerant of a lot of things," says China Airlines spokesman Roger Han (
But despite the effort certain companies like UMC and China Airlines are making, some employees still say these companies are not doing enough to make these programs successful.
One of the biggest problems associated with company sponsored outings is the lack of employee participation. Although companies often pay for the outings, many employees are still no-shows. "Our department does sponsor events," says one employee of China Airlines who asked not to be identified, "But that doesn't mean we go to them."
With some employees working together for 50 plus hours a week, the last thing many of them want to do is see each other on their days off. A way to rectify this quandary, employees say, is to organize activities which benefit the community.
For many workers, being able to help others is enough of a motivating factor to warrant going to the office on their day off. In addition, these types of events are things the entire family can enjoy and is an ideal way for parents to show their children the importance of giving back to the community.
Another problem plaguing many company sponsored events is the fact that they occur only once in a blue moon. At UMC for example, family day is held once a year, and even then, only for a few hours. Indeed a lot of planning and effort goes into organizing these types of activities and the last thing overworked employees need is more work. But if done right, these events can boost employee morale and enhance office productivity.
Aside from problems on the home-front, another phenomenon that may arise from employees habitually working overtime and on weekends is stress. This work-related stress, if untreated, may lead to bouts of depression and in extreme cases, suicide. In response to this, companies like China Airlines have tried to address the emotional needs of their employees by hiring psychologists and lecturers to instruct employees on how best to manage their emotions.
Electronics giant Tatung also goes out of its way to address the mental wellness of its 20,000 employees in Taiwan. Having the benefit of being situated next to Tatung University, employees at Tatung headquarters in Taipei are invited to partake in stress relief classes such as tai chi, calligraphy and photography. For a few Tatung employees, these courses have not only been helpful in clearing their minds but have also transformed many of them into better workers.
Prior to joining the company's tai chi class more than four years ago, Tatung employee Tsai Su-ren (
The payoff, according to Tsai, has been tremendous. "Because of the class my stamina and energy is very good and I have no problem working long hours anymore despite my age."
According to Tatung's program coordinator Su An-teh (
Although the mental well-being of an employee can directly determine his productivity, the physical wellness of an employee is an equally important aspect of employee welfare. Understanding that workers who put in long hours on the job often do not have the time to eat or exercise properly, more and more Taiwan companies are including health clubs and restaurants among their facilities.
China Airlines offers its employees one of the most modern exercise centers in Taipei. Located at the company's headquarters in Taipei, the exercise center rivals many private health clubs and is available to employees at a fraction of the cost and an exercise room, snack bar and one of the only Olympic-sized swimming pools in Taipei.
Set to open in February, UMC's "wellness center" in Hsinchu will also afford many of its employees an opportunity to stay fit without leaving company grounds. The facility will include a pool, weight room and basketball court and will allow workers to balance their hectic schedules and stressful jobs with physical exercise. UMC hopes that by building the state-of-the-art facility, employees will miss fewer work days due to poor health.
At Tatung, many of the stress-relieving courses offered by the company are also instrumental in improving the physical health of many of its workers. Wu Jia-he (
"I was always distracted because of all the different health problems I was suffering," he says. "That's why I decided to join the tai chi class, I wanted to improve my health."
Today, despite working the same long hours, Wu claims that his body and mind are problem free. "My joints don't ache anymore and I feel like I am able to concentrate for longer periods of time now."
Many companies in Taiwan have discovered that one of the most effective ways to show employees that they care is by allowing workers to better themselves both as company employees and as people.
At Tatung, aside from courses in tai chi and calligraphy, employees are able to study foreign languages and attend Business Management courses. According to Tatung management, the favorite course for many of its employees is an economics class offered every Monday evening, which attracts a mix of both upper management employees and technicians.
UMC employees also have an opportunity to better themselves. The company invites speakers to visit the company's headquarters in Hsinchu on a regular basis to give talks on topics ranging from love and relationships to travel. It's all part of an effort, say company officials, to help employees balance aspects of their personal life with their work.
Despite Taiwan's dreary economic condition, many companies are still going out of their way to show their employees that they're appreciated. In the end these facilities, seminars and family programs may well be what distinguishes these companies from their rivals.
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