We are finding it hard to retain staff. Many resign and dont give notice.

[Iamfalang]

  On 7/30/2022 at 11:08 PM, thailand49 said:

my foot massages a lady use to call me serious before

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and then you say, "That's why I'm here!!!!!!!!!! I'm too serious!!!!!   Now get this stress out of my banana, I mean my foot!!!"   

[JayClay]

  On 7/29/2022 at 6:27 PM, Mac Mickmanus said:

Some people seem think that there only two kinds of jobs in Thailand ; Either prostitution or planting rice in a field . 

   Don't these ignorant people not realise that there are jobs in 7/11 ?

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I'm not really sure who the ignorant one is here.

 

How many times do you see a 7/11 understaffed for a prolonged period of time? Sure, the turnover is high and there might be the odd day when they're running slightly under capacity, but the fact is that most jobs in 7/11 are filled pretty quickly.

 

I also heard that there's an educational entry level that staff need to satisfy before being eligible to work there. I'm not sure if that is true, but if it is then it instantly excludes the majority of sex/rice workers.

 

But even if the qualifications requirements is not true, if all the sexy rice girls decided at once that they had had enough and were going to find work in 7/11, Lotus'ss'sz, Family Mart or wherever, do you honestly believe there'd be enough work for all of them? How about half of them? 10%? 1...?

 

The only other real jobs available to people in these situations, unless they know somebody with influence, are manual labor/factory work.

 

And, again, there's not nearly enough of such work to go around should a significant number of candidates suddenly emerge.

 

 

 

[Rampant Rabbit]

OP  I  feel  your  pain, its  quie simple  though, many of them are  bone  idle from what Ive seen over 10  years, they also  have no thought of saving or  of tomorrow, they get a fist  full  of cash and off they go...........then a  few weeks  months later their  reality sets  in and they go off  for  another  job.

Ive said this  before but salary is  not the  deciding thing for them, they often get  bored also.

In my 10  years Ive had two decent workers, the rest  have been total drivel.

Burmese..........doesnt make much difference these  days, found them going the same  way.

Ive posted  the same for  years  , to be met with the "if  you paid them a decent wage " blah blah blah,  usually posted  by a bunch of clueless  morons.

I  have one lad  now, hes doing the work usually done by two  people, but he does it with ease and has lots of free  time , proving to me what I always  knew that two  people is  overkill, not  only that he only  has 1.5  hands........lost 3  fingers in an industrial accident. His salary is 15k a  month +  house electric  water ,  motorbike, fish. Ive used him 3  times over that ten years but he does get bored, it  maybe with age he sees  its  his  best choice, his salary increases  each year by 1000 a  month.

He worked  here  about 8 years  ago, stayed for 18  months left, came  back 18  months later stayed 18 months   left, came  back 14months  ago now.

Many Thais simply dont have any get up an go...........but they have plenty of GO.............oh yeah and theyll  tell all their friends  you were a  krap employer also.

Dreading the day when my lad leaves.

[Rampant Rabbit]

  On 7/28/2022 at 3:57 PM, dia1 said:

Every employee is a human with ambitions and goals

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No not  in Thailand, most just drift thru  life  day to day...........enter the reality of many Thais, they give almost zero though to tomorrow.which is why they up and  leave a  job.

[Rampant Rabbit]

  On 7/28/2022 at 10:40 PM, KIngsofisaan said:

I know 100's in Isaan that would love to have a job out of the fields

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hmmmm

[Rampant Rabbit]

  On 7/28/2022 at 10:40 PM, KIngsofisaan said:

Let's see 6 Thai workers at 10,000 baht a month.

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bwhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ha ha 10k a month, which century was that in?.........try minimum 12k and upwards for field work PrachuapKhirikhan

[Rampant Rabbit]

  On 7/29/2022 at 3:02 AM, Inala said:

I always enjoy your anecdotes onemorefarang

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And  full  of the reality.

[thailand49]

  On 7/30/2022 at 11:34 PM, Iamfalang said:

and then you say, "That's why I'm here!!!!!!!!!! I'm too serious!!!!!   Now get this stress out of my banana, I mean my foot!!!"   

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you should stop playing with yourself old man! ????

OSMFF!  

[Ralf001]

  On 7/31/2022 at 12:20 AM, JayClay said:

I'm not really sure who the ignorant one is here.

 

How many times do you see a 7/11 understaffed for a prolonged period of time? Sure, the turnover is high and there might be the odd day when they're running slightly under capacity, but the fact is that most jobs in 7/11 are filled pretty quickly.

 

I also heard that there's an educational entry level that staff need to satisfy before being eligible to work there. I'm not sure if that is true, but if it is then it instantly excludes the majority of sex/rice workers.

 

But even if the qualifications requirements is not true, if all the sexy rice girls decided at once that they had had enough and were going to find work in 7/11, Lotus'ss'sz, Family Mart or wherever, do you honestly believe there'd be enough work for all of them? How about half of them? 10%? 1...?

 

The only other real jobs available to people in these situations, unless they know somebody with influence, are manual labor/factory work.

 

And, again, there's not nearly enough of such work to go around should a significant number of candidates suddenly emerge.

 

 

 

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We have to use labour hire from Camodia and Loas as no locals want to work.

[JayClay]

  On 7/31/2022 at 1:07 AM, Ralf001 said:

We have to use labour hire from Camodia and Loas as no locals want to work.

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Yes. 7/11 outlets are generally full of Cambodian and Laotian workers.

[Ralf001]

  On 7/31/2022 at 1:22 AM, JayClay said:

Yes. 7/11 outlets are generally full of Cambodian and Laotian workers.

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Really ?

 

I would not know, I do not work at a 7/11.

[JayClay]

  On 7/31/2022 at 1:25 AM, Ralf001 said:

Really ?

 

I would not know, I do not work at a 7/11.

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Sorry. I didn't realize you were talking about your own business. Probably due to the fact that you quoted a big long post of mine about staffing opportunities in 7/11.

[Ralf001]

  On 7/31/2022 at 1:55 AM, JayClay said:

Sorry. I didn't realize you were talking about your own business. Probably due to the fact that you quoted a big long post of mine about staffing opportunities in 7/11.

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I was replying to this part of your post.

 

  On 7/31/2022 at 1:55 AM, JayClay said:

The only other real jobs available to people in these situations, unless they know somebody with influence, are manual labor/factory work.

 

And, again, there's not nearly enough of such work to go around should a significant number of candidates suddenly emerge.

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[Caldera]

I don't know if it's any consolation, but a Thai friend who manages a business is reporting pretty much the same.

 

Maybe it's just too easy to find a new job whenever they need to work again? So when they feel like taking an extended break, they just do it without a care in the world. 

[Ralf001]

  On 7/31/2022 at 2:04 AM, Caldera said:

I don't know if it's any consolation, but a Thai friend who manages a business is reporting pretty much the same.

 

Maybe it's just too easy to find a new job whenever they need to work again? So when they feel like taking an extended break, they just do it without a care in the world. 

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We have atleast 2 a week do a no show citing they have found a better job/could not be <deleted> working.

[BritManToo]

I'm surprised you all expect anything form minimum wage workers.

I certainly wouldn't give any loyalty to a minimum wage employer.

 

No responsibility either way!

[BritManToo]

  On 7/29/2022 at 6:27 PM, Mac Mickmanus said:

Some people seem think that there only two kinds of jobs in Thailand ; Either prostitution or planting rice in a field . 

   Don't these ignorant people not realise that there are jobs in 7/11 ?

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You need to have completed school to age 15 (3 years high school) to work in any of the franchise chains.

Only 20% of the Thai population have ever attended high school, which leaves 80% of the Thai population excluded from working in such places.

[Bkk Brian]

  On 7/31/2022 at 3:04 AM, BritManToo said:

You need to have completed school to age 15 (3 years high school) to work in any of the franchise chains.

Only 20% of the Thai population have ever attended high school, which leaves 80% of the Thai population excluded from working in such places.

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Wow, never knew that..........how sad.

[Ralf001]

  On 7/31/2022 at 3:01 AM, BritManToo said:

I'm surprised you all expect anything form minimum wage workers.

I certainly wouldn't give any loyalty to a minimum wage employer.

 

No responsibility either way!

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Our shop floor staff are paid double min wage,.

Get up to 5 months bonus every year (2 months fixed/3 months based on performance)

Free food cooked at onsite canteen.

80b per day fuel allowance.

100b per day shift allowance (for night shift which rotates every two weeks).

etc etc etc.

 

They quit at the drop of a hat.

 

Ohh  yeah, the standard work week is 5 days at 7.5hrs (9 hr day but 1 hour lunch and 2 15 mins breaks)... We also work Saturdays and they are paid as over time if they choose to work.

[johnnybangkok]

Lets start with ''Totally unreliable and annoying for us. I dont want to pay her because she hasn't given us any notice. I feel I want to teach her a lesson. What would you do? It will be annoying if she turns up and makes drama demanding her salary.' This is illegal. If she has worked the days/hours then legally you cannot withhold her money.

 

'They work hard but we pay the well above the norm compared to our competitors. We pay double time if they work on public holidays'. You have admitted in a subsequent post that you think you work them too hard. This could be the problem in a nutshell but easily solveable by hiring more than your usual 5 workers. If for example you hire 7, then you won't have to pay overtime as you do now (therefore halfing the hourly cost) and you will have back-up for when someone doesn't show up for a shift or doesn't return from a family visit. It's just a case of logistics and working out work time-tables and paying people for hours worked rather than for being employed. If done properly, 7 staff need not cost you any more than 5 staff without overtime.

 

The rest of the problem is your attitude. 'I feel living in this third world mentality here in Thailand is wearing me down'. As much as I appreciate how draining all of this can be, no one forced you to open a business in Thailand and I think the least you could have done is try to understand the mentality of your workers. There has been plenty of posters on here giving you solid advice about how to keep low paid staff happy (treat them like family, make yours a fun environment to work in, give them something more than just 'above normal' salaries etc) but perhaps start with your own prejudices and pre-conceived ideas that is making you look VERY negatively on all of this. Start with doing an exit interview for all staff (you can go back as far as 6 months to a year) using a Thai that is NOT related to you nor the business (if you know any HR professional, that would be ideal but it has to be Thai). Then do a similar question and answer session with your current staff. Tell people it is confidential and you are not looking for anything else other than constructive criticism and you'll only be taking up 10 mins of their time. Then ask them questions along the lines of (for ex-staff) :-

1. Why did you leave the position?

2. What could we have done to keep you?

3. What is your thought on the working environment? Was it fun? Did you enjoy the work/people?

4. What would have been the single biggest thing we could have done to keep you employed?

5. What is your view of senior management? 

 

You will find that some just didn't care and it wouldn't have mattered what you did but if you ask enough people, you may find a trend that you were just not aware of (working them too hard for example). The point is you are just guessing right now....... so don't. Find out for sure what the problem is as then you are half-way to solving it. It is very difficult to see a problem from within especially when you are so involved yourself and/or feeling as cynical as you currently are. 

 

Best of luck and I hope it all works out for you.

 

N.B. I run a recruitment and HR Consultancy business here in Thailand. I employ 54 staff myself but consult many, many companies who have similar problems to your own. Hopefully you will take this advice in the constructive manner it's meant. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mac Mickmanus]

  On 7/31/2022 at 3:12 AM, Bkk Brian said:

Wow, never knew that..........how sad.

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Its not true though .

Its compulsory for Thai kids to attends school and 85 % of Thais stay in school until they are 15 and 75% go onto further education 

[BritManToo]

  On 7/31/2022 at 4:41 AM, Mac Mickmanus said:

Its not true though .

Its compulsory for Thai kids to attends school and 85 % of Thais stay in school until they are 15 and 75% go onto further education 

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What an ignorant post, it's almost as if you don't live in Thailand and don't have a Thai family and kids.

[Mac Mickmanus]

  On 7/31/2022 at 12:20 AM, JayClay said:

I'm not really sure who the ignorant one is here.

 

How many times do you see a 7/11 understaffed for a prolonged period of time? Sure, the turnover is high and there might be the odd day when they're running slightly under capacity, but the fact is that most jobs in 7/11 are filled pretty quickly.

 

I also heard that there's an educational entry level that staff need to satisfy before being eligible to work there. I'm not sure if that is true, but if it is then it instantly excludes the majority of sex/rice workers.

 

But even if the qualifications requirements is not true, if all the sexy rice girls decided at once that they had had enough and were going to find work in 7/11, Lotus'ss'sz, Family Mart or wherever, do you honestly believe there'd be enough work for all of them? How about half of them? 10%? 1...?

 

The only other real jobs available to people in these situations, unless they know somebody with influence, are manual labor/factory work.

 

And, again, there's not nearly enough of such work to go around should a significant number of candidates suddenly emerge.

 

 

 

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I think that its people who only ever go into 7/11's and bars who think 7/11's and bars are the only two jobs available ,

[StevieAus]

  On 7/28/2022 at 10:46 PM, gk10012001 said:

Just as a point of reference.  Here in the USA, I work in the defense industry.  Over 40 years I have been in the active Air Force, then worked for most of the big companies such as Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop, General Dynamics, not to mention several small firms.  The last few years every large company has stopped offering pension plans.  Sure they give you some more vacation days, and slightly increase their matching 401 k contributions, but no pension.  So many employees get tired and just don't see the reason to stay on.  The turnover rates these days are huge.  turnover always existed, but not like today's numbers.  with no pension carrot on a stick to strive for, staying long term is so much less attractive.

 

  Now for Thailand, looking ahead to the future sadly seems to be not a big thing in the Thai mentality, so I am not sure that even having some sort of longevity bonus or "pension" would even work, but you never know.  A few lunches and treats here and there are NOT going to pique their interest to stay.  Mai Sanook or not fun pops up in the Thai mentality pretty quick.

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I think you are wrong about people not looking ahead.

Why do you think so many want to work for the government whether local, national or whatever.?

Its because unless they commit a criminal act, they have a job for life.

They generally work five days a week, receive all the public and religious holidays off work with pay, sick pay , holiday pay and a pension when they retire.

[connda]

We are finding it hard to retain staff. Many resign and dont give notice.

Perhaps you should reflect on how you treat your staff?  Just reflecting on years as an employed person and the reasons why I quit?

Give your management style a serious review. 

Where there is smoke, there is fire.  Just saying. 

[KIngsofisaan]

  On 7/31/2022 at 12:36 AM, Rampant Rabbit said:

bwhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ha ha 10k a month, which century was that in?.........try minimum 12k and upwards for field work PrachuapKhirikhan

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Try 200 baht a day where we live in Isaan

 

You think every area pays the exact same?

[3NUMBAS]

they have a grudge and it becomes too much to swalllow

[Rampant Rabbit]

  On 7/31/2022 at 11:32 AM, KIngsofisaan said:

Try 200 baht a day where we live in Isaan

 

You think every area pays the exact same?

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And "if" thats the  case why dont those  looking for  work travel then? Theyre  lazy +  Issan isnt  all of Thailand either...Wife  is  from Issan she knows the scre with the locals  up there, she  knows  all too well including many of her bone idle  family.

Seems  plenty of  replies  here are   seeing what I see in regards to employment of  Thais in general and their work attitude.

As a  ps  Id  be more than happy to take any of those 200 baht a day workers, reality is they probably want 200 to sit  on their <deleted>  all day.

[Rampant Rabbit]

  On 7/30/2022 at 5:32 AM, Hummin said:

I believe Thais and especially Isan people is not used to work full time, they are used to work seasons, and work little bit here and little bit there, like stray workers ???? A cultural thing

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There  seems to be an element  around  here that they work 2-3  days  get enough  money for beer spend the next 3-4 days  drunk then quit, rinse and repeat

[KIngsofisaan]

  On 7/31/2022 at 8:25 PM, Rampant Rabbit said:

And "if" thats the  case why dont those  looking for  work travel then? Theyre  lazy +  Issan isnt  all of Thailand either...Wife  is  from Issan she knows the scre with the locals  up there, she  knows  all too well including many of her bone idle  family.

Seems  plenty of  replies  here are   seeing what I see in regards to employment of  Thais in general and their work attitude.

As a  ps  Id  be more than happy to take any of those 200 baht a day workers, reality is they probably want 200 to sit  on their <deleted>  all day.

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Do you really think these folks can afford to travel?

 

Man, so many people have no idea how many people in rural Isaan actually have to live like this and are lucky to eat each day.