TSMC Exec Says Workers Unwilling to Take Shifts Should Not Enter Chipmaking Industry

TSMC Chairman Mark Liu
(Image credit: TSMC)

TSMC’s uncompromising attitude toward employment has resulted in a crop of unfavorable reviews on sites such as Glassdoor in the U.S. TSMC's U.S. operations have a paltry 27% approval rating on the anonymous employer review site, according to a report by Fortune. This is pretty dismal compared to firms such as Intel — which has an 85% approval rating.


TSMC chairman Mark Liu responded to the startling contrast in approval ratings in an interview with local Taiwanese press by suggesting people who aren't passionate about semiconductors and prepared to work long shifts shouldn't look for a career in the industry. Liu also said that TSMC's U.S. employees were not expected conform to the same work culture as its Taiwanese employees, according to a report by Focus Taiwan.

Regardless, disgruntled U.S.-based TSMC employees have anonymously shared scathing reviews of the company's work culture on Glassdoor. Nearly 100 reviews for TSMC in the U.S. have been published on the site, and common complaints mention:

  • Heavy workloads
  • Poor training
  • Long hours
  • High expectations from bosses / supervisors
  • Limited breaks
  • Work-life balance issues
  • ‘Military style’ controlling atmosphere
  • Stress

Some of the most concerning comments highlighted in the Fortune report included complaints about the "brutal" corporate culture, about 12-hour days being standard practice, and about employees sleeping in the office for a month. 

The average review of TSMC North America (not specifically Arizona) on Glassdoor appears to have improved since the Fortune report dropped. At the time of writing the company’s overall approval rating on the site is around 58% — which still isn't great compared to Intel.

TSMC Executive Comments

In response to the report, chairman Mark Liu said, "Those who are unwilling to take shifts should not enter the industry, since this field isn't just about lucrative wages but rather a passion for [the semiconductor industry]." 

Liu also suggested that U.S. employees had it relatively easy compared to Taiwanese employees, but said work culture was open to discussion so long as TSMC's core company values were adhered to. 

TSMC Arizona recruitment

(Image credit: TSMC)

TSMC has plans for two wafer fabs in Arizona, which will output chips on 3nm and 4nm process nodes. The first plant is scheduled to start mass production in 2024, while the second will come up to speed in 2026. 

TSMC has already had trouble recruiting for its new Arizona fabs due to its requiring a six- to 12-month training period in Taiwan, but perhaps its corporate culture is also to blame. A recent report of criminal behavior disturbing residents of the TSMC Village communities in Arizona will also be of concern to potential recruits.

Mark Tyson
News Editor

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

  • PlaneInTheSky
    I am extremely displeased by such anti-worker language from TSMC.

    Considering this company got massive subsidies from US taxpayers, and they're already threatening US employees.

    We have rules in the US against overworking employees.

    Alabama's Hyundai representatives used similar language years ago. And now we have revelations Hyundai used child labor in Alabama.
    Reply
  • peachpuff
    I hope these are hourly workers and not on salary.
    Reply
  • TCA_ChinChin
    PlaneInTheSky said:
    I am extremely displeased by such anti-worker language from TSMC.

    Considering this company got massive subsidies from US taxpayers, and they're already threatening US employees.

    We have rules in the US against overworking employees.

    Alabama's Hyundai representatives used similar language years ago. And now we have revelations Hyundai used child labor in Alabama.
    Yeah, TSMC workers in Taiwan might have even harsher conditions than TSMC US, but you're in the US. When in the US, you play by US rules. It's a sorry sight when you can't offer competitive jobs after so many incentives.
    Reply
  • BX4096
    These Asian companies are used to running their workforce as a toned down version of a concentration camp, slave drivers and all.

    But just because Taiwanese workers are content being ranked 4th in the world by the average number of their work hours doesn't mean that the rest of the civilized world is dumb enough to be persuaded by their "passion for semiconductors" nonsense.
    Reply
  • evdjj3j
    Sounds like TSMC employees need to orginize.


    “The only companies that get unionized are those that deserve it,”
    --Yves Trellu, Executive Vice President of the Michelin Tire Corporation
    Reply
  • PlaneInTheSky
    Some of the TSMC America glassdoor reviews.

    Twelve-hour days are standard, weekend shifts are common. I cannot stress how brutal the work-life balance is here

    People slept in the office for a month straight.

    Arrogant attitude, company treats employees and contractors horribly, even abusively beyond description.

    Pay management language barrier (70% of reports are still Chinese) harsh punishments like pay loss no raises.

    They said if you’re American and you don’t like the culture and you don’t like them speaking in Chinese then you just need to get out of the company. It is completely top down racism if you are not Taiwanese you are treated like a second class citizen.

    It is stressed to employees that they are not to eat away from their desk, and that they are not to talk to each other during meals, under threat of lower performance reviews.

    It is common to receive work calls in the middle of the night, or 6am on the weekends, and so even when you leave the company, you must keep your phone with you at all times.
    Reply
  • rgd1101
    Didn't Tesla have long hour too?
    Reply
  • sivaseemakurthi
    Oh wow, I guess Taiwanese work even harder. No wonder Intel struggles to compete against TSMC. This will be a losing battle for Intel.
    Reply
  • evdjj3j
    rgd1101 said:
    Didn't Tesla have long hour too?
    Read the article long hours are not the only issue. They treat their employees like garbage.
    Reply
  • Co BIY
    It's always hard to hire. Especially hiring a lot of people for a large new project. The pool of people looking for a new job is always below average compared to the overall workforce.

    TSMC has never really run large workforces outside of Taiwan or CCP China so that will be a challenge too.
    Reply