Foxconn has a little problem. The Taiwanese manufacturing firm, who put together chips for Apple’s iPhone and Dell computers, among other companies, employs a whole lot of people at its factories. More than 8,000 people report to work for Foxconn every day; however, Foxconn has also become prone to worker suicide. Just hours after CEO Terry Gou toured the Shenzhen, China, location, a 23-year-old worker jumped to his death off the 7-story employee dormatory. That’s the company’s 10th successful suicide, and 12th attempted suicide!
So what makes Foxconn workers want to put an end to their lives in such a dramatic manner? Apparently, if you believe the critics, it’s job unhappiness. The company is accused of using military-like discipline, maintaining shifts that are too long, and having the assembly line move too fast. Meanwhile, the company is installing nets and barriers on all its tall buildings (I’m not joking) to curtail any future leaps.
That’s probably cheaper than addressing the problem of why your workforce would prefer death to continued employment.
Tags: Foxconn, Terry Gou, iPhone manufacturer, computer plant plagued by suicides, company has 10 suicides, company has 12 attempted suicides at one plant, suicide, man jumps from company dorm hours after CEO tour, Shenzhen, China