Motivation at Foxconn

Motivation is a quest to unlock the virtuous circle of productivity of satisfaction. Improving the motivation of employees improves morale, productivity, and other factors. Motivation is affected by the characteristics of the individuals, including their differences in needs, values, personality, beliefs, emotions, as well as by work and job nature. These factors could be examined by the content approach.
From Alderfer’s ERG theory, there’re three types of Needs (Existence needs, relatedness needs, growth needs). The needs of Foxconn’s factory workers and what the company has offered are examined below:
Existence needs, the first level needs, is the basic needs for food, water, clothing, shelter, and a secure and safe environment. In Foxconn’s medium-sized city-like factory plant, Foxconn provides food allowance and dormitory, and a secure and safe environment for its employees. Whether the salary is good enough has drawn heated debates. Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM) argued that even though Foxconn claimed that it had been in compliance with local laws, minimum legal standards a safety net could not guarantee decent living conditions in the cities. Basic wage in Foxconn is only slightly more than minimum wage . From the documentary project titled “Dreamwork China” by Italian journalists Tommaso Facchin and ivan Franceschini,   many workers in Foxconn work over time to earn more money such that they can bring home; or can save up the money towards their “dreams” such as opening a shop in the future. There are also employees expressing their opinion complimenting Foxconn as one of the big factories in China which provides good salary, food, welfare comparing with the smaller factories in China. In response to the suicide crisis, Foxconn has responded by raising the salary by as much as 66% in late 2010.   However, the suicide crisis continued, indicating money might not the only factor leading to the crisis. There may be some other needs...