A Thai Bank Manager Loses her Job

Benjawan is taking a lot of time off work to look after her sick father these days. A few months ago, the bank she works for had fast-tracked her application for a transfer out of Bangkok to a branch in the province where her family lived. You will find that most companies in Thailand will be flexible and accommodating when matters of family are concerned. There is a strong concept of family in this country.

Her salary has dropped but not that significantly. In any case, she believes her family comes first and any financial loss now is not important. A girl would leave her job to look after a relative, even if there was no prospect of a family inheritance to follow.

In fact, Gai, the bank’s cleaner, had given her notice last month for that very reason. And her family are very poor.

Last week Benjawan worked only three days. Her deputy has now been appointed in her place. She still has her office, moving her out would have been a step too far for an employee of her length of service and experience. She concentrates now on new investment business, as that does not demand a great deal of staff supervision.

Her staff now use the word wanna (boss) when they speak to her ex-deputy and have dropped that title when talking to Benjawan. I thought the change would have caused more problems but it clearly has not. I suppose I should not have been surprised. Thainess always produces solutions where Face is not lost and conflicts are avoided.