TSMC bonus dispute continues as rumors swirl of 75% of employees facing poor performance reviews

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is grappling with internal dissent following rumors of a significant overhaul to its performance appraisal system. Employees are expressing anger and anxiety over claims that the company plans to drastically reduce the proportion of top-rated employees, potentially assigning a "below expectation" (SC) rating to 75% of its workforce.

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We are high performers, and the assessment will not change.

These rumors, circulating widely on internal forums and social media platforms like Dcard, suggest that only 10% of employees would receive "outstanding" (O) or "excellent" (S+) ratings. This has fueled fears of a substantial impact on employee bonuses and overall compensation, leading to widespread discontent.

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Today I saw the new PMD (Performance Management and Development) ratios. In the future, only 10% of people will be S+ and O, 15% S, and 75% will be SC and below.

TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei attempted to quell the unrest during a recent shareholder meeting, assuring employees that performance evaluations would remain unchanged and fair. "We are high performers, and the assessment will not change," he stated. However, these assurances have not fully diffused the tension.

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It means everyone can queue up to leave at 5 PM, since we won't be able to compete for the top spots anyway.

Internal discussions reveal a divided employee base. While some believe the "75% bad ratings" are a baseless rumor, many others, citing the company's recent "bonus controversy," have lost trust in official statements. Some employees are even discussing the formation of a labor union to collectively address their grievances and pursue further action, indicating a deep-seated frustration within the company.

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It's truly a great policy. 75% of people will start slacking off and dump all the work on the front 25% of people.