MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS FOR YOUNG EMPLOYEES WORKING AT STARTUPS IN THAILAND

Abstract

The objective of this research paper is to explore the motivational factors for young employees working at startups in Thailand. The findings from this research are to suggest to the founder and management team about motivations of young employees working with startups and to provide a design tool for building employee retention strategies. The research methodology was qualitative research interviews conducted via online conference. There are 11 participants, whose ages range from 24-32 years old (late generation Y and Z), joining the interview: those who are currently working and who previously worked at startups. Motivational factors are supported and linked with Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory. The result from open-ended interviews found five factors that motivate young employees to work with startups such as new job opportunities and work experiences, vision and personality of the founder, flexible company culture, supportive colleagues, and accomplishment from challenging tasks. The recommendations are given for startups and to further research. For start-up companies, the founder and/or management team could explain the vision and mission of the company clearly to attract new young talents to work with them. They could boost a supportive workplace within the company where senior and junior levels could share and discuss their ideas together. In addition, the company could give compliments when the team achieves certain tasks to encourage them to improve their skills. The founder could nurture flexible company culture by promoting non-hierarchy and remote work and at the same time focusing on goal-oriented approaches. For future research, founders and employees could be interviewed to get wide perspectives on motivational factors for working at startups. The studies could focus on participants working in various industries and geographic areas to collect more opinions and data.