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TSMC is reportedly having a difficult time hiring American workers for its new Arizona fabs due to the grueling work-life balance, according to a new report. Western work culture has always been decidedly more relaxed than our Eastern counterparts, and these two forces appear to be clashing head-on in the desert as TSMC attempts to ramp up its US operations. The company’s Chairman has seemingly made matters worse in responding to the new report by saying prospective employees should work in a different industry if they can’t handle it.
News of TSMC’s woes in staffing up its Arizona operations comes from Fortune, which interviewed several current employees and examined online reviews of the company. The reviews and interviews paint a picture of a company with rigorous standards and demanding work schedules, which have made hiring reportedly tricky in the US. One employee who only gave a nickname to Fortune noted that in his role working on 5nm products, it is impossible to take any opinion about anything to the manager above him. “This simply cannot be done,” he told Fortune.
TSMC Chairman Dr. Mark Liu.
Credit: TSMC
The company’s GlassDoor reviews are also somewhat surprising from an American perspective, as they describe a punishing work environment where employees work long shifts and live at the factory. One review described the work-life balance as “brutal” and noted how this management style is incompatible with American culture. Joey said employees are paid for 10-hour shifts but often have to work longer to finish a job and are then afraid to ask for overtime. TSMC’s GlassDoor rating was 29% when Fortune published its piece, but it has gone up to 58%. Despite the sudden turnaround, its rival Intel enjoys an overall rating of 84%, even with 29,000 reviews compared with TSMC’s 1,300 reviews.
Another hurdle for TSMC’s American operations is it sends some of its engineering hires to Taiwan for training, which can last from 12 to 18 months. A recruiter interviewed by Fortune said of 30 offers it would send out for a job at TSMC, only one or two were accepted due to the training requirements. Once they land in Taiwan, American employees reportedly don’t get along well with management, as the expected level of obedience is not something they have experienced in America.
In response to Fortune’s piece, its Chairman Mark Liu had a simple message: Find another job if it’s not to your liking. ‘Those who are unwilling to take shifts should not enter the industry [semiconductor manufacturing],” said Mr. Liu, according to Focus Taiwan. He argued that, as in Taiwan, TSMC employees should be energized by the engineering and technology involved and less so by simply earning a paycheck. He added, “This field isn’t just about lucrative wages but rather a passion for it.”
Liu also stated that the company does not expect US employees to conform to the same standards it has for its Taiwanese workforce and that it’s always open to discussion on the topic, as long as everyone adheres to the company’s core values. The company also increased salaries globally by 20% in 2021, which spurred its rivals to do the same, elevating the pay for all workers in the industry.
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