Work Culture in Taipei

Hello!

I'm writing from Taipei where I'm working at a bank for the summer. I've been in the area for almost two months now trying to get a grasp on what a career in Asia might feel like. Even though the company is headquartered in London and a has a large international presence, the office feels incredibly homey and local. Everything in Chinese/Taiwanese culture seems entered around the family, and the workplace is no exception.

Employees in the same division literally refer to each as family members, calling one person a big brother or in my case, a little sister.

There are quite a few who don socks and slippers around the office, often while still wearing a power suit. A small thing, but it really adds to a less aggressive work environment (for better or for worse).

The company structure is standard enough, but it seems like the signs of hierarchy are much subtler. Managers and Directors and VPs, as far as I've seen, might have a little more desk space but sit in the same open area as all those who report to them. No private offices! On my first day I thought the tiny cubicle walls (little desk dividers, really) and open space looked incredibly impersonal, but now I'm pretty sure that these touches were not accidental; they encourage interaction and more of that familial feeling.

Though some of my tasks haven't been the most pleasant, I've never been disgruntled which I attribute to a great company culture. A firm with a really incredible culture, then, could make its employees do all sorts of menial things. Or inspire them to challenge themselves in all sorts of ways. It's a great alternative to simply higher salaries and inspires much more loyalty.


Alice

UPDATE: oh fudge there was just an earthquake!!!! nothing serious but I'm literally clinging to my sheets.