Workplace reviews and discussion: KD_科定企業股份有限公司

Lots of money, suitable for becoming a money-making machine.

1. Bootlicking-the-boss culture

Before reporting for work, we were told to watch nearly an hour-long video of the chairman’s pre-listing earnings presentation (plus more than half an hour of product introductions). After the chairman praised the vice chairman’s artistic achievements in aesthetics as being comparable to those of the modern-day Picasso, the audience below actually burst into applause.

2. Bootlicking-China culture

A few years ago, the company began expanding into the Chinese market, which also has quite a few employees, so to avoid upsetting the Little Pinks, the company uniformly refers to it as “the Mainland.” I think it’s understandable that businesspeople want to make money, and changing a term won’t really kill me, but the Chinese version of the official website is titled “中国台湾科定板官方网站” (“China Taiwan Keding Panel Official Website”), which completely crossed my line. Besides, it’s incredibly self-contradictory—why not change the website to “Mainland Taiwan” too? It makes you want to meticulously record every single website bug in your daily work report.

3. Overtime culture

At nine in the morning, they’ll ask in the group chat whether you want to order dinner for working overtime that night. When the 5:20 p.m. quitting bell rings (yes, the kind of bell you hear at school), hardly anyone leaves work; everyone seems to remain seated as usual. The funny thing is that on your first day, you’ll be asked to take an online “pre-employment training” exam, which includes a question asking which option is not part of the company culture. You have to choose “overtime culture” to avoid losing points.

4. Hierarchical culture

There is a thick, 33-page introductory etiquette booklet (although the amount of paper handed to you on your first day may be two or three times the length of this booklet). When you open it, it is packed with black-and-white photos of department heads and supervisors. It repeatedly emphasizes that whenever you see someone at the level of chairman, general manager, or similar, you must speak loudly. For supervisors, you must address them by their name plus title; for coworkers... Oh, right: in communication-app groups and similar chats, once there are more than three people, you have to add your direct deputy-manager-level or higher supervisor.

5. Disciplinary system

Arguing with a supervisor results in a major demerit; arguing with a coworker results in a minor demerit; eating breakfast or listening to music during work hours also results in a minor demerit. Any demerit comes with a fine.

6. Etiquette culture

Women are the only ones required to wear makeup, and specific standards for light makeup are laid down: eyebrows must be trimmed, lips must be moisturized, and visible roots from dyed hair must be touched up. They even provide a website with nine steps for ironing clothes—how incredibly thoughtful.

7. Evaluation culture

Besides the familiar exams requiring everyone to memorize wood materials, color codes, and prices, there are also various opinion surveys with no real ability to distinguish anything, such as selecting how satisfied you are with the pre-employment training. (Seriously, who would select “dissatisfied”?) In addition, for employees aged 29 or younger, Human Resources will ask you to apply for the Workforce Development Agency’s “Youth Employment Flagship Program.” The actual purpose of this program is for companies to obtain money from the government: during the first three months, the company receives NT$12,000 per month, and from the third to the sixth month, it receives NT$3,000 per month. That would be one thing, but they also require you to sign a separate consent form agreeing that, for the materials submitted to the government, you are willing to let the company’s HR department polish and revise your reflections.

—Conclusion—

1. The overall atmosphere is oppressive and bizarre. (Everyone likes to use Skype to discuss work instead of talking face-to-face.)

2. The office building is very tall and has a great view, but you can’t receive a signal of freedom. If you haven’t experienced enough of the lingering effects of a patriarchal society in Taiwan and want to try the Chinese Communist Party’s management system, you should check it out.

3. It turns out the overwhelmingly negative reviews online aren’t without reason.