The work culture in Thailand

Hello everyone,

As an expatriate, working in Thailand can present unique opportunities but also challenges. Discovering new communication styles, adapting to new cultural norms... working in Thailand can be both exciting and confusing.

Share your experience to better understand the work culture in Thailand and facilitate the professional adaptation of people who are wondering about it.

How would you define the work culture in Thailand?

What was the most difficult thing for you when you started working?

What made the biggest impression on you?

How did you fit into your team?

Thank you for your contribution.

Mickael
Expat.com team

@Mickael


2 words, messy n friendly

@Mickael I have been living in Thailand for 10 years. I had a restaurant myself,  unfortunately was closed during Covid-19.  I am looking for an investor to open a restaurant

@Mickael I have been living in Thailand for 10 years. I had a restaurant myself, unfortunately was closed during Covid-19. I am looking for an investor to open a restaurant
-@tehrann1212

Hello tehrann1212


And how was the work culture there? Is it different from that of Iran?


Yoginee

Expat.com team

in my office everyone ate & drank all day. Eating while they're working. Messy desks everywhere.  Cell Phone and food all day. No wonder nothing ever got done. No one every gets to work on time.  But leaves early. So many holidays in Thailand it's insane.  Not one week goes by without a holiday.  No one really knows how to use a computer. So they just push papers, stack & file all day everyday.

I worked at a high-tech production company North of Bangkok as specialist in overseeing the erection of industrial facilities.

Thai employees are friendly, good natured, but hopelessly inefficient workers and completely averse to making own decisions or taking responsibility. I have seen a few good managers and others who can think for themselves, but most Thais only follow instructions blindy.

That plus the endemic corruption, which ate up some of my project's budget without anything to show for (while the plant's facility manager owned three Harley Davidsons - each costing a year's salary at his level!), made me quit that job after twelve months out of frustration for not being able to achieve as much as I did in other Asian countries (similar projects, also with local teams).

My conclusion: Thailand is not a place for serious work or a career - and if you are paid like a local (which I was not), it is also not a place to earn any amount worth speaking of. Leave those jobs to the Thais and look elsewhere!

I totally agree. No worth etiquette at all. I have done a lot of volunteering in Thailand and the only successful businesses are the ones being managed by foreigners.  Lots of corruption with the money.