SUMMARY
- TSMC faces a workforce dissatisfaction crisis as its rigid working culture meets resistance from U.S. employees.
- The company’s $40 billion investment into new Arizona foundries marks a significant step in the U.S. semiconductor industry's resurgence.
- Despite its authoritative and demanding culture that has brought success in Taiwan, TSMC must now adapt to attract and retain talent in its U.S. operations.
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Headquartered in Taiwan, the Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the world's leading producer of semiconductor chips. However, its rigorous working environment has prompted concerns amongst its U.S. employees. These employees, who have used their anonymity to express grievances on platforms such as Glassdoor, have mentioned a series of issues including unending work hours and an overwhelming workload. Statements from several engineers reveal an approval rating of 27% for TSMC's U.S. operations from 91 reviews, considerably lower than Intel's 85% rating.
The primary concern is the strenuous working culture of TSMC that is causing dissatisfaction among U.S. employees, potentially hindering its efforts to recruit adequate personnel for its upcoming Arizona foundries. These foundries, central to the U.S.'s $52 billion CHIPS Act, are aimed at domestically strengthening the semiconductor industry. TSMC's plans to spend $40 billion on these new foundries were hailed as a "game changer" by President Joe Biden, as they are expected to bring critical chip supply chains back to the U.S. amidst the technological competition with China.
According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, the CHIPS Act could create 42,000 new jobs by 2030, a figure often cited by the Biden administration. TSMC hopes to hire 4,500 new workers for its Arizona operations, a significant fraction of the anticipated new jobs. However, the company's recruitment goals clash with the expectations of U.S. semiconductor industry workers, who are familiar with lenient, high-paying employers and are resistant to TSMC's approach.
In Taiwan, TSMC is hailed as a national guardian and powerhouse, playing a significant role in Taiwan's economy and providing a substantial portion of the world's most advanced chips. The company's rigorous expectations from employees, coupled with an authoritative work culture, have been successful in Taiwan, but seem to create an impediment for potential and current American employees. TSMC is attempting to address this issue, introducing new policies to counterbalance its reputation as a stringent employer.
TSMC's hard-nosed work culture, exacting standards, and intensive training have established it as a dominant force in Taiwan, contributing significantly to its revenue surge of nearly 30% from 2021 to 2022. However, its rigorous working environment and arduous training requirements do not seem to be winning over potential candidates in the U.S. With the demand for a highly-educated workforce, suitable compensation and flexible working conditions, TSMC faces an uphill battle to retain and attract U.S. employees.
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