TSMC Workplace Accusations: Toxic Culture, 16-Hour Days, and Discrimination Allegations

CNBC AI News, August 4th – As the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, TSMC commands a pivotal position in the global semiconductor landscape. The Taiwanese giant is also known for its profitability, making employment there a point of pride for many. However, for some Americans, the reality of working at TSMC, particularly at its U.S. facilities, appears to be a far cry from the ideal.

With TSMC investing tens of billions of dollars in state-of-the-art fabs in the U.S., the company is on a hiring spree. While compensation packages are undoubtedly attractive, a former TSMC employee at the company’s U.S. facility recently took to Reddit to air grievances, highlighting potential culture clashes between Asian corporate practices and American workplace norms.

TSMC’s primary U.S. manufacturing operations are situated in Arizona, the same state where Intel also has significant presence, effectively establishing it as a vital hub for American semiconductor production. The engineer behind the Reddit post, having spent four years at TSMC, certainly possesses the tenure and experience to offer insightful commentary on the company’s organizational culture.

The lengthy post essentially boils down to this: TSMC’s biggest selling points are its high salaries and job security. However, these benefits don’t necessarily translate to a comfortable experience for American employees.

The criticisms fall into two main categories. Firstly, newly hired American staff are required to undergo training at TSMC’s Tainan, Taiwan, headquarters. However, the facility is primarily geared towards local staff, and accommodations for international employees seem lacking. The former employee cited instances of disorganization in areas such as lodging, access control, and equipment operation guidance. The lack of basic English instructions further complicated matters.

Beyond these logistical challenges, American employees also face a culture shock. Some perceived a lack of warmth and cooperation from local TSMC employees. Requests for assistance were sometimes met with reluctance, reportedly fueled by resentment over the higher salaries paid to their American counterparts – hinting at potential pay disparity issues within TSMC. This friction alone was enough to drive some American employees to quit. The Redditor claims that during the training period, at least 20% of the new hires left. Compared to the initial training cohort, as many as 70% have since departed.

Even after completing training and returning to work in the U.S. fabs, difficulties persist. One major drawback is the grueling work schedule. Employees routinely clock 14- to 16-hour days, with overtime being the norm, leading to average departure times of 9 or 10 p.m.

Adding to the stress, managers were accused of assigning urgent tasks near the end of the workday, often with tight deadlines requiring immediate action, effectively forcing employees to work late. (A tactic familiar to many in demanding corporate environments).

The ex-employee also pointed to potential biases in TSMC’s hiring practices. He suggested that managers showed a preference for candidates from Taiwan, followed by those holding work visas.

Conversely, the Redditor alleged that TSMC managers exhibited biases against certain ethnic groups, including explicit instructions not to hire Indian candidates and instances of derogatory language used towards specific demographics –potentially creating an environment of discrimination.

In summary, the lengthy critique sheds light on the cultural discrepancies between TSMC and typical American workplace norms. The poster painted a picture of what he considered a toxic environment characterized by dysfunctional management, excessively long working hours, and alleged discrimination, resulting in a chaotic and demoralizing atmosphere.