Chile Forum

momof3 wrote:So far nobody has given me any hope to pass on to my expat friend. There have got to be success stories where someone figured out how things work.

When I started business in Chile we where first in, so business was carried out my way (with some concessions to the “Chilean Way”), now many years later the billion dollar industry is still run my way, go figure. Adapt or go home, never expect respect earn it and take no sh!t from those who work for you. Quarterly we did performance reviews and fired the poorest performer, this woke up all those just above him. I think this would be a great way to work in the IT industry, you would just need to contract it properly, always keep employees on term contracts.

We always had a long list of applicants for jobs and would hire above good people this pulled up the bottom, we also had many key positions filled by foreigners as there were no Chileans to hire at the time.

The warm and fuzzy you work with me, we are a team, etc does not work in a hierarchical work place ditch it. We also pay well above normal and give good bonuses and educational opportunities, so those that work for us are loyal and hard working, even the Chilotes.

I am accessing a business right now and will use the same techniques.

The warm and fuzzy you work with me, we are a team, etc does not work in a hierarchical work place ditch it.

Three cheers for that.

That is why I believe American companies and individueals get in so much trouble with their employees here. Chilean workers smell instant blood in the water (e.g. starbucks, benigins, a few others I have seen here hit the wall at full speed).

YOUR NOT MY EQUAL, YOU ARE MY EMPLOYEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chileans will understand that. They could give a shit less about being part of the "team" unless it is the local football team (and even that is questionable in Chile).

That does not mean an employee should be treated badly. They should be treated like an employee.

Your friend already has part of the answer - threaten dismissal. As nwdiver said, regular performance reviews, get people to agree to certain goals, and be a bit of a p***k about it all. As admin said, they work FOR you. And maybe he needs to carry through and get rid of some of the dead wood, to get the others motivated. Sounds awful but it is what it is.

PS he needs this to happen quickly, because nothing's going to happen in Feb!!

momof3 wrote:So far nobody has given me any hope to pass on to my expat friend. There have got to be success stories where someone figured out how things work.

Px had a great example of his own success with management in the "Warmest People..." thread. It would be nice if admin could post it over here.

admin wrote:

The warm and fuzzy you work with me, we are a team, etc does not work in a hierarchical work place ditch it.

Three cheers for that.

That is why I believe American companies and individueals get in so much trouble with their employees here. Chilean workers smell instant blood in the water (e.g. starbucks, benigins, a few others I have seen here hit the wall at full speed).

YOUR NOT MY EQUAL, YOU ARE MY EMPLOYEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chileans will understand that. They could give a shit less about being part of the "team" unless it is the local football team (and even that is questionable in Chile).

That does not mean an employee should be treated badly. They should be treated like an employee.

I suspect then that my friend's mentality is a bit too sympathetic in his efforts to relate to the locals. Work is work is work is work.

Steph wrote:Your friend already has part of the answer - threaten dismissal. As nwdiver said, regular performance reviews, get people to agree to certain goals, and be a bit of a p***k about it all. As admin said, they work FOR you. And maybe he needs to carry through and get rid of some of the dead wood, to get the others motivated. Sounds awful but it is what it is.

PS he needs this to happen quickly, because nothing's going to happen in Feb!!

I have just starting hearing rumors about productivity coming to a complete halt in February due to an annual exodus. I am guessing this is the case because the holidays are over and school will soon start again in March. It would be lovely if there were an expat calendar that warned of every such occasion, official and unofficial.

momof3 wrote: I have just starting hearing rumors about productivity coming to a complete halt in February due to an annual exodus.

It's sometimes hard to tell whether it's the normal lack of productivity or the lack of productivity due to no-one being there.