How To Retain Staff

[Usana]

Hi all

I got this problem, My staffs ( managers, supervisors, trained printer ) just leave without informing........ I have tried to retain their pay, overtime, allowance but the leaving without informing culture still there.

Seriously i dun mind if they got better offer and leave but i need them to inform as i need time to recruit new staff .................. ANy ideas ?

Patrick

[gotlost]

TIT

[sarahsbloke]

Pay them more money than they can get anywhere else, offer them pensions, paid holiday leave, sonkran/loy kratong bonus, loyalty wage rise each year, weekends off, shorter shifts, etc.

Make working for you an attractive proposition.

I have tried to retain their pay, overtime, allowance

This is not a good idea, all your staff will know you are doing this, they will tell all new prospective staff.

The employees will just plan to leave the day after they are paid, not do overtime, and you will have trouble getting new staff.

Edited May 12, 2010 by sarahsbloke

[Usana]

Pay them more money than they can get anywhere else, offer them pensions, paid holiday leave, sonkran/loy kratong bonus, loyalty wage rise each year, weekends off, shorter shifts, etc.

Make working for you an attractive proposition.

We pay salary higher than thai market rate. We offer pension, medical leave , paid holiday, we offer 5 days work. I would really consider on the songran/loy kratong bonus and the loyalty wage rise each year. THanks

[thrawn60]

Hi,

i'm not a specialist in Thai culture or anything like that, but from what you write, it seems like there are more to the problem that meets the eye.

First of all, by Thai law, they have to submit the leave form, and this have to be noted by the HR responsible person, failure to do this should result in a written warning letter, do this twice you can kick them out and as far as I know they can't claim compensation pay etc, since they are not fulfilling their jobs.

I don't know what kind of business you run, but always remember to have contracts on the employees, you can get into deep problems if not, since they can sue your ass off through the labor department, and if you are the owner of the company, you will have the same rights as always in this country... Pay tax and be happy, but not much more.

For the underlying problems, if it's as you state that all Managers, etc are leaving without notice, it's very possible that one of these senior managers are the culprit and encouraging the other staff just to leave as they please.

[Familyonthemove]

I understand your concerns - recently we had one person just phone up and say they are not coming in to work again - no reason given.

I think this looks odd to us visitors because Europeans, Americans, Japanese and Koreans tend to be very work focussed (or obsessed) so we put career and work objectives over family, friends and a work/life balance.

Perhaps the Thai culture is different and so pay, pensions etc are not a factor if there's a family issue or just something else more important than work?

[phomsanuk]

I have only one employee my "live in" and have a hard time motivating her to remain, you have my sympathies

[olivier2553]

Was it a one time thing? Or all your employees leave you after working for you just for a few months?

If your employees never want to stay with you, maybe the problem is in your company.

If it happened once that they left altogether, it maybe some external reason.

It is not uncommon that the workers give their loyalty to their manager rather than to the company: if the manager leaves, they will leave with him and it will be the charge of the manager to find a new job for the team, not only for himself.

[barky]

I went for a new job about a month ago and the big Thai boss says he had a problem with one western alien in the past so his remedy is to retain 10% of their wage each month (and supposedly return it at the end of the contact) and stipulate that all new western employees give 2 months notice in writing lest they lose their "security" monies.

How's that for fair treatment ?

Welcome to Thailand.

[barky]

I went for a new job about a month ago and the big Thai boss says he had a problem with one western alien in the past so his remedy is to retain 10% of their wage each month (and supposedly return it at the end of the contact) and stipulate that all new western employees give 2 months notice in writing lest they lose their "security" monies.

How's that for fair treatment ?

Welcome to Thailand.

[neverdie]

I went for a new job about a month ago and the big Thai boss says he had a problem with one western alien in the past so his remedy is to retain 10% of their wage each month (and supposedly return it at the end of the contact) and stipulate that all new western employees give 2 months notice in writing lest they lose their "security" monies.

How's that for fair treatment ?

Welcome to Thailand.

WARNING bells would be ringing for me. Clearly this is not the sort of person or company you want to work for.

[Lumumba]

They leave because,

A. You actually make them work for every penny you pay them.

B. You actually make them earn every penny.

C. You dont organise field trips, where you treat them at your expense.

D. They think they are making you rich.

E. You have a wife or GF with a nasty attitude.

[OxfordWill]

"Working with the Thais". Good book- not long- available in most bookshops which stock english language books.

Black background red lettering, photo in black and white on front cover. Have lost my copy.

[Usana]

Hi,

i'm not a specialist in Thai culture or anything like that, but from what you write, it seems like there are more to the problem that meets the eye.

First of all, by Thai law, they have to submit the leave form, and this have to be noted by the HR responsible person, failure to do this should result in a written warning letter, do this twice you can kick them out and as far as I know they can't claim compensation pay etc, since they are not fulfilling their jobs.

I don't know what kind of business you run, but always remember to have contracts on the employees, you can get into deep problems if not, since they can sue your ass off through the labor department, and if you are the owner of the company, you will have the same rights as always in this country... Pay tax and be happy, but not much more.

For the underlying problems, if it's as you state that all Managers, etc are leaving without notice, it's very possible that one of these senior managers are the culprit and encouraging the other staff just to leave as they please.

Normal staff who intend to stay will apply for leave accordingly but i am having problem with leaving without inform expecially after they got their salary. As we are a singaporean company i do think that they make a comparism our company vs japan or farang company.

About the manager who left recently, i somehow feel that he got some problem with our hq in singapore....... i am the only senior manager here in thailand , i did not encourage anyone to leave ......lol thanks.

[Usana]

I understand your concerns - recently we had one person just phone up and say they are not coming in to work again - no reason given.

I think this looks odd to us visitors because Europeans, Americans, Japanese and Koreans tend to be very work focussed (or obsessed) so we put career and work objectives over family, friends and a work/life balance.

Perhaps the Thai culture is different and so pay, pensions etc are not a factor if there's a family issue or just something else more important than work?

Family problem like mom is sick, need to take care of her (its a normal reason given by thai) i guess they are too shy to inform that they are leaving for some reasons. In fact , some left with taking their salary, overtime and allowance......amazing thai.

[Usana]

Was it a one time thing? Or all your employees leave you after working for you just for a few months?

If your employees never want to stay with you, maybe the problem is in your company.

If it happened once that they left altogether, it maybe some external reason.

It is not uncommon that the workers give their loyalty to their manager rather than to the company: if the manager leaves, they will leave with him and it will be the charge of the manager to find a new job for the team, not only for himself.

For my factory , the employee will normally work for few months and leave without informing. i sense a problem there as i feel disgusted about that too........ Web cam are everywhere production area, qc area , packing area, everywhere except my seat.......

[ESB7]

With builders, I always found a few crates of Chang, few bottles of Sang Som or other cheap whiskey on pay day does the trick...join with them for an hour or so as well. If you are a company, maybe a works do once a month, really does create a sense of being appreciated and costs so little and a good time to boot for all also.

[Usana]

With builders, I always found a few crates of Chang, few bottles of Sang Som or other cheap whiskey on pay day does the trick...join with them for an hour or so as well. If you are a company, maybe a works do once a month, really does create a sense of being appreciated and costs so little and a good time to boot for all also.

Sound not bad , lol

[aussiebebe]

The OP sounds like the employment conditions offered are fair with pension, sick leave, paid holiday and regular 5-day work. I don't think there would be any cultural anomalies as Westerners are notorious for leaving after recieving recieving their pay check. The only thing I can think of is, are there any malicious employees who bully or intimidate other staff? Abrasive personalities can cause friction and lead to staff leaving without discussing.

[tgw]

Sanook

Is there enough sanook in working for your company?