TAIPEI (Global Views-Commonwealth/TVBS News) — In an unusual corporate twist, China Motor Corporation (CMC), a company that places great emphasis on the concept of "family," boasts an employee demographic with an average of 1.87 children per staff member, significantly surpassing the national average.
Remarkably, 20% of the company's workforce also falls into the category of "three-child families." As a response to this distinctive workforce composition, CMC has taken the extraordinary step of establishing a childcare facility right next to its corporate headquarters.
What is Your Conception of Home?
"The most important 'vehicle' for me is my father's shoulders" and "I think he's afraid I'll forget my way home" are more than just lines from advertisements. They encapsulate the vision of Yulon Group's CMC: "Carrying Happiness, Conveying Emotion." These phrases vividly symbolize the company's core commitment to family, a theme that resonates deeply within its corporate ethos.
More than two decades ago, CMC introduced the "LANCER" model, with a family-centric narrative at the heart of its advertising campaign. This was followed by the "SAVRIN" model, which broke new ground in the domestic market for sedan-style SUVs, bringing the innovative concept of a car for three generations to Taiwan's automotive scene.
Establishing a kindergarten near CMC Headquarters for Employee Convenience
Company data reveals that each couple within the organization raises an average of 1.87 children, markedly surpassing the national average of 1.09. Furthermore, 20% of the staff belong to what's affectionately termed a "three-child family," nurturing three children each, reflecting the company's family-friendly atmosphere.
Responding to the growth in employee family sizes, CMC launched a kindergarten in 1997 adjacent to its Yangmei headquarters in Taoyuan. Designed to accommodate 180 children, the facility has consistently operated near capacity, welcoming not just the offspring of CMC staff but also those from affiliated manufacturers and local neighborhoods. Praised for its high educational standards, the kindergarten has gained such prominence that it's marked on Google Maps.
"The kindergarten was my motivation for joining CMC," shared Chung Shan-wen, deputy manager of CMC's Human Resources Department, whose two children, now university students, occasionally revisit the kindergarten to catch up with their former teachers. Anny Fu, manager of the General Manager's Office at CMC, echoed this sentiment, particularly praising the kindergarten's expansive outdoor environment and the large ecological pond. She contrasted this with Taipei's cramped and crowded spaces, underscoring the positive impact on children's physical and mental well-being.
Chien Ching-wu, deputy general manager of CMC, outlined the company's straightforward philosophy behind establishing the kindergarten: it aims to alleviate the concerns of employees working overtime regarding childcare. He highlighted the struggle of many staff members who, already burdened with office responsibilities, also face the constant pressure of managing their children's pick-up times. This dual pressure is mitigated by the kindergarten's proximity to the company, just a few hundred meters away, enabling parents to bring their children to the office if necessary and depart together after work, easing the childcare conundrum.
Beyond Pick-ups: CMC's Comprehensive Care for Children and Expectant Mothers
Moreover, employees have cultivated a distinctive "pick-up culture at CMC," according to Chien. In a system marked by camaraderie, colleagues alternate in collecting each other's children, ensuring they're fed, cleaned, and aided with homework until the parent can retrieve them post-work. This culture of mutual support extends to those residing in company-provided dormitories near the kindergarten, who also partake in this collective childcare effort.
Chung reminisced, "I and the Deputy General Manager's secretary formed a 'mutual aid group.'" She expressed her peace of mind, knowing that the children were well-fed and their homework completed by the time she picked them up. This nurturing culture is something she proudly upholds, often stepping into ferry children when Fu is out of town on business.
CMC has collaborated with the labor union to extend their care beyond the kindergarten to introduce a unique industry initiative, the "first-grade new student leave." This provision enables parents to take a day off on their child's first day in the first grade, offering CMC employees the cherished opportunity to intimately engage with their children's pivotal educational milestones.
Furthermore, recognizing the concerns of pregnant employees working daily in front of computers, CMC takes thoughtful steps to ensure their well-being. The company offers radiation protection aprons and a weekly apple, extending heartfelt wishes for the health and safety of both the employees and their unborn children. Chien Ching-wu views these modest but meaningful actions as symbols of the company's care, aimed at fostering a reassuring environment for expectant mothers.
Retaining Talent: CMC's Success with 'Three-Child Families' Workforce
Beyond fostering family expansion, CMC has played cupid in its ranks. Acknowledging the company's remote location in Yangmei, Taoyuan, far from the urban bustle, Chien and the administrative team initiated social gatherings. The inception of the inaugural "Love Bus" last month marked a novel venture, encouraging inter-departmental interaction among employees, predominantly in their early thirties.
Indeed, such employee-oriented initiatives are not new at CMC. Huang Te-chao, formerly the deputy general manager of the HR Legal System at Yulon Group and a past CMC employee, highlighted the company's automotive production as a catalyst for unique perks. Employees enjoy discounted rates on car purchases and the privilege of renting specific models for 48 hours for their weddings. The company later expanded its offerings to include weekend car rentals for commuting and evening trips to nearby Zhongli for movie outings, all tailored to meet staff needs, with the company's enthusiastic backing.
Huang underscored the familial ethos of CMC, tracing its roots to Wu Shun-wen, former president of Yulon Group. The "people-first" philosophy is pivotal across the group's spectrum of businesses, with Wu's handwritten "Unity is strength" visible across subsidiaries and business entities. He stressed that this reciprocal exchange and collaboration culture energizes the workplace, fostering a diverse talent pool and bolstering employee retention.
Currently, CMC boasts 22 sets of second-generation employees and even instances of "three generations in the same company." Scenes unfold where fathers, with their fathers and children in tow, drop off the youngest at kindergarten before proceeding to work together, epitomizing the company's deep-rooted family culture.
Throughout its decades-long journey, the warmth of family that CMC has woven into its corporate fabric, mirroring the comfort found in its automobiles, has only flourished. As the kindergarten day concludes, children gleefully sprint toward their parents. During the ride home, they recount their day's adventures in hands-on aquaponics, basking in the pure, invaluable joy of family time. This tradition, encapsulated in the "Mitsubishi Family," perpetuates an unbroken chain, year after year.
China Motor Corporation Profile
▍ Established: 1969
▍ Chairwoman: Yen Chen Li Lien
▍ General Manager: Chen Chao-wen
▍ Capital: NT＄5.536 billion
▍ Number of Employees: 2,200
▍ Main Business: Manufacturing and sales of automobiles and related components
This story was first published in the January issue of Global Views Magazine | https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/107719?utm_source=tvbs&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=monthly
More coverage:
1. https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/102034?utm_source=tvbs&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_clicks&utm_content=107719
2. https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/107082?utm_source=tvbs&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_clicks&utm_content=107719
3. https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/108040?utm_source=tvbs&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_clicks&utm_content=107719
