Foreign employers and foreign managers in Thailand need to be aware of the extreme importance Buddhism has in the lives of all their employees.
Most Thai employees will express little outward religious fervour but this does not mean they feel indifferent towards their religion, even though most might break the Buddhist moral codes every day. Employers who neglect to observe the basic rules regarding Buddhist rites and obligations at the workfloor will face difficulties and sabotage.
The vast majority of the Thai people takes enormous pride in being Buddhist. This is not necessarily displayed openly and if one is not observant it might completely escape attention. Should that be the case then chances are high the Thai staff feel their foreign employer/manager is insensitive towards Thai religion and culture, straining professional relationships.
The Lord Buddha is revered above all else and the monks are His representatives on earth and are therefore at the pinnacle of society. Their position ranks even higher than that of the king. Even the least religious Thai will consider a negative attitude towards Buddha and the monkhood as an insult towards the entire Thai nation and its culture.
An extra element of Thai Buddhism is the fact that actually the majority of the Thai people is not Buddhist at all (although they would strongly deny this) but animist. Spirits have an extremely important place in every day life and will often reside inside Buddhist religious elements, thus blending the two perfectly.
A foreign manager can gain enormous face and goodwill if he/she will organize Buddhist rites almost immediately after taking up his/her position in Thailand. Some possibilities are:- Organize the visit of a prestigious monk or monks from a prestigious temple to the workplace for blessing of the operation. This requires some insider knowledge as not all monks or temples are considered equally good. To hire a monk or monks from a temple held in low esteem might create actual damage instead of creating goodwill. The reason is that literally every man can be ordained as a monk should he wish so, even the hardest criminals will be allowed to receive the blessings of monkhood. To unwittingly invite a monk of known disrepute will not create the anticipated goodwill.- Have a shrine established on the grounds of a new workplace.- All existing buildings will have a shrine on the grounds. Monks could be invited to conduct a cleaning ceremony or erect a new replacement. This should be handles with extreme care as the original shrine will be endowed with special powers and the residing spirits must be pacified first before the shrine be properly cleaned or replaced by a new one.- Organize a visit to a prestigious temple with the entire staff for merit making. This activity has the advantage of providing fun or “sanuk” in Thai, a necessary element in every Thai working environment.
Offices all have a small shrine attached high up on a wall with a little Buddha statue and some cups containing food and drink as offerings plus an incense holder. These will be refreshed every day. Foreigners are not expected to pay attention but they are certainly expected to allow the presence of the office shrine. Contrary to Thai offices Chinese companies will normally have a large shrine placed on the floor and besides a Buddha statue there will normally also be one Kuan Ying, the Goddess of Good Fortune. Keeping the shrine clean and foreseen with the daily refreshments is something office workers will organize by themselves. There is never a need for the foreign manager to become involved.
Almost every Thai man will enter the monkhood at some stage of his life. This is normally for a brief period of time: 3 days, one week, 3 weeks or 3 months. Most young men will become a monk as a symbolism to close one chapter of their life before entering another one. Becoming a monk prior to marriage is quite common. It can also be done as a means of honouring the parents. Employers must allow employees time off (with paid leave) to enter the monkhood for a specified period of time. Up to a maximum of three weeks is customary. It also needs to be granted only once. When an employee enters the monkhood it is common for the manager to be invited for the ceremony and the party afterwards (on which Thais will always spend enormous amounts of money as a son becoming a monk, no matter for how brief a period of time, is a tremendous auspicious occasion). Attendance is greatly appreciated and provides the employee concerned with face and the manager with respect.
Foreign employers and foreign managers cannot overestimate the sensitivity of Thais towards Buddhism. It is never expressed fanatically and foreigners are not expected to participate themselves but their possible failure to respect established Buddhist practices (e.g. allowing an office shrine etc.) will result in an immediate backlash. And, like the King, the Buddha can never be ridiculed, not even in a joking manner.
This article appeared earlier in e-magazine Business Trends Asia (www.businesstrendsasia.com)
Most Thai employees will express little outward religious fervour but this does not mean they feel indifferent towards their religion, even though most might break the Buddhist moral codes every day. Employers who neglect to observe the basic rules regarding Buddhist rites and obligations at the workfloor will face difficulties and sabotage.
The vast majority of the Thai people takes enormous pride in being Buddhist. This is not necessarily displayed openly and if one is not observant it might completely escape attention. Should that be the case then chances are high the Thai staff feel their foreign employer/manager is insensitive towards Thai religion and culture, straining professional relationships.
The Lord Buddha is revered above all else and the monks are His representatives on earth and are therefore at the pinnacle of society. Their position ranks even higher than that of the king. Even the least religious Thai will consider a negative attitude towards Buddha and the monkhood as an insult towards the entire Thai nation and its culture.
An extra element of Thai Buddhism is the fact that actually the majority of the Thai people is not Buddhist at all (although they would strongly deny this) but animist. Spirits have an extremely important place in every day life and will often reside inside Buddhist religious elements, thus blending the two perfectly.
A foreign manager can gain enormous face and goodwill if he/she will organize Buddhist rites almost immediately after taking up his/her position in Thailand. Some possibilities are:- Organize the visit of a prestigious monk or monks from a prestigious temple to the workplace for blessing of the operation. This requires some insider knowledge as not all monks or temples are considered equally good. To hire a monk or monks from a temple held in low esteem might create actual damage instead of creating goodwill. The reason is that literally every man can be ordained as a monk should he wish so, even the hardest criminals will be allowed to receive the blessings of monkhood. To unwittingly invite a monk of known disrepute will not create the anticipated goodwill.- Have a shrine established on the grounds of a new workplace.- All existing buildings will have a shrine on the grounds. Monks could be invited to conduct a cleaning ceremony or erect a new replacement. This should be handles with extreme care as the original shrine will be endowed with special powers and the residing spirits must be pacified first before the shrine be properly cleaned or replaced by a new one.- Organize a visit to a prestigious temple with the entire staff for merit making. This activity has the advantage of providing fun or “sanuk” in Thai, a necessary element in every Thai working environment.
Offices all have a small shrine attached high up on a wall with a little Buddha statue and some cups containing food and drink as offerings plus an incense holder. These will be refreshed every day. Foreigners are not expected to pay attention but they are certainly expected to allow the presence of the office shrine. Contrary to Thai offices Chinese companies will normally have a large shrine placed on the floor and besides a Buddha statue there will normally also be one Kuan Ying, the Goddess of Good Fortune. Keeping the shrine clean and foreseen with the daily refreshments is something office workers will organize by themselves. There is never a need for the foreign manager to become involved.
Almost every Thai man will enter the monkhood at some stage of his life. This is normally for a brief period of time: 3 days, one week, 3 weeks or 3 months. Most young men will become a monk as a symbolism to close one chapter of their life before entering another one. Becoming a monk prior to marriage is quite common. It can also be done as a means of honouring the parents. Employers must allow employees time off (with paid leave) to enter the monkhood for a specified period of time. Up to a maximum of three weeks is customary. It also needs to be granted only once. When an employee enters the monkhood it is common for the manager to be invited for the ceremony and the party afterwards (on which Thais will always spend enormous amounts of money as a son becoming a monk, no matter for how brief a period of time, is a tremendous auspicious occasion). Attendance is greatly appreciated and provides the employee concerned with face and the manager with respect.
Foreign employers and foreign managers cannot overestimate the sensitivity of Thais towards Buddhism. It is never expressed fanatically and foreigners are not expected to participate themselves but their possible failure to respect established Buddhist practices (e.g. allowing an office shrine etc.) will result in an immediate backlash. And, like the King, the Buddha can never be ridiculed, not even in a joking manner.
This article appeared earlier in e-magazine Business Trends Asia (www.businesstrendsasia.com)
