Many studies show that employee commitment is high in Vietnam and this is closely connected to organisational benefits with positive influences on productivity, quality and competitiveness. What sets Vietnam's work culture apart from the rest?
The Vietnamese have a great sense of national pride created by their long struggle for independence They are proud of the relatively short time it has taken the country to become an emerging economic powerhouse in the region, from a very desperate situation in the latter part of the last century to today’s strong position. The Vietnamese are proud of their independence and history, they believe that the past hostilities in defence of their national territory have galvanised the country into a strong resilient economy. A collectivist culture creates a "for the greater good" paradigm and their strong loyalty to family culture.
Many studies show that employee commitment is high in Vietnam and this is closely connected to organisational benefits with positive influences on productivity, quality and competitiveness. These committed employees are less likely to quit their jobs, less likely to be absent, more likely to engage and have higher levels of satisfaction.
Commitment is often defined as the extent of a person's loyalty and attachment to an organisation. This, in turn, is linked to the degree of effort an individual will exert to support the organisation’s goals. This commitment has positive influences on productivity, quality and competitiveness. Committed employees are less likely to quit their jobs, less likely to be absent, more likely to engage and have higher levels of satisfaction. Of course, this must be linked to effective HR practices and when HR practice creates high-quality relationships in the workplace, employees reciprocate in a positive and beneficial way.
In Vietnam, there is a definite alternative work culture, quite different to most other offshoring destinations. Although in common with all cultures getting good pay and conditions are as you would expect is fairly high on the list of expectations for most Vietnamese workers. They also regard work satisfaction and work experience as an important factor as well. The level and fairness of implementing of strategies and policies that reward people fairly, equitably and consistently in accordance with their value to the organization. The clarity of each employee’s role, freedom from conflict, job challenges, opportunities for advancement, and participation in decision making, all affect affective and continuance commitment and loyalty.
Apart from the historical factors outlined previously the Vietnamese are also influenced by the hierarchical structure in Confucianism, it is quite common that most Vietnamese employees think that they have the obligation to respect people who have a higher position or are older than them. This may seem a little “old-fashioned” to western standards but the advantages are obvious.
The Vietnamese workforce is young and positive.
- They are bright, optimistic about the future, talented, eager to learn, and focused on improving their socio-economic conditions. The current generation can and will unlock the full potential of Vietnam’s human capital resources. As well as the numerous good universities and colleges in Vietnam many students study abroad and are bringing back a different mindset for problem-solving to share with the local organisations and are actively involved in helping other students who haven’t had similar opportunities.
- The youth are interested in working with and learning new techniques, best practices, and new skills from global sources. This is why they make outstanding candidates for remote staffing. In Vietnam, it as seen as very prestigious to work for a foreign company either from Europe, US or Australia, therefore, working as part of a dedicated offshore team in such industries as web design, web development and graphic design outsourcing can be careers keenly sought after. \n
Generally, the people of Vietnam see the future as bright and are willing to learn and work hard for the rewards that will undoubtedly come.