Thread by @trickytaipei

Taiwanese work culture is incapable of trusting that it’s employees can work effectively from home.

Please DM me with stories from companies explaining why they will or won’t allow work from home. I’ll make a thread.

“They opened the clock in/out system from home. Some teams have to report every morning when they start working and what they're doing for the day. They also have to update when they clock out. Then the manager wants to make sure everyone's camera is on during meetings.”

“But I literally don't have a camera on my computer so I just let my manager throw a fit and then ignore her.”

“Management seems to just be ignoring the problem. Two directors requested WFH, either in full or half in half out for employees, but it was denied by the CEO. The directors are foreigners, the CEO is Taiwanese.” 1/2

“Some employees will effectively have their hours and pay cut while an operational plan is thrown together on the fly.” 2/2

From a teacher in Taoyuan:

“My school said it's too expensive. Just a flat out no, we aren't teaching online it's too expensive. We are to stay open until the government tells us to close and when they tell us to close we stop getting paid.”

From an office in Taipei City:

“My company hasn't given us any explanation at all. We've simply gotten HR emails every day reminding us to eat healthy, wash our hands, wear masks, and stay home as much as possible (outside of work hours, of course).” 1/2

“Now that schools are closed, they've said you can apply for special WFH privileges if you have a particular need for it, but the rest of us are expected to be at work as usual.” 2/2

From a big Taiwanese tech company:

“We went to 50% WFH on Thursday. Company-wide email has a helpful reminder about what working from home means (it’s not a holiday, you must work 8 hours a day, your equipment must be turned on and connected at all times...)” 1/3

“Up to VPs how they want to divide their teams 50/50. My colleague who is a friend had a FEVER for three days running and they tried to make her come to the office. A FEVER. So yes, it’s vaguely ridiculous but horribly, I suspect not as bad as other Taiwanese companies.” 2/3

“The cafeteria is closed, you have to wear a mask all day, no in-person meetings allowed, but they are still making people show up. To sit at a desk and do Zoom meetings, and only take off their mask to eat their take-away lunch.” 3/3

“Our company finally allowed us to WFH yesterday afternoon, but first you have to bring in your own laptops to have MIS install some software (only 3 MIS staff in a company of more than 200.) Many of my colleagues do not own laptops, and I own a MacBook...” 1/3

“...which they've kept for almost 24 hr now and still can't figure out how to set it up (only know how to use Windows. Kinda think our company is doing it on purpose so we HAVE to come in to the office lol.” 2/3

“And we're supposed to be an "international company which reacts rapidly to global issues," according to top managements haha” 3/3

From a govt employee:

“I work for the Taipei gov at an airtight office. We’re expected to have 2/3 of office workers working onsite. Some of us commute from places like Linkou or Zhongli or Xindian and can’t afford to not use public transit...” 1/2

“...I’m on my first year so I don’t get days off, and was made fun of and shamed for wanting to WFH even if all my work are on emails.” 2/2

(Airtight office means it’s an all air conditioned environment.)

For balance, some companies ARE doing a good job allowing for WFM. Winkler is no surprise (see below), and also the bicycle company Tern. The takeaway is companies with more international business mindset or staff have adapted faster.

https://twitter.com/winklerpartners/status/1394238767767162881

From a tech company in Nankan:

“Well. Our HR directly said to us how do we know you are working at home?”

No matter how bad Taiwanese workers have it, what migrant workers have to endure is maddening.

https://twitter.com/michaelturton/status/1394572173692440578