Why are Taiwanese companies so obsessed with making people change their English names?

Although this didn’t happen to me personally, due to the nature of my job, I often hear about these kinds of cases. (Names below are pseudonyms.)

When new hires join the company, if their English name is the same as an existing employee’s—or if the name is considered “not formal enough”—they’re required to change it.

Right before the Tomb-Sweeping Day holiday, I was informed that a new colleague named Erica Wang would be joining after the break. So I prepared all her onboarding documents using that name.

However, on her first day, when HR introduced her to everyone, they called her Emily. I was confused—wasn’t her name Erica? HR then told me that because this new colleague’s role involves company operations, and there’s already someone named Erica Lin in the department, they were worried confidential documents might accidentally be sent to the wrong person. So they asked Erica Wang to change her name to Emily Wang.

Is it just me, or is this totally absurd?

Her English name was known from the interview stage—why change it on the first day of work? That would never happen in a Western workplace, right? Just because a “preferred name” isn’t a legal name, does that mean companies can change it as they wish? It feels extremely disrespectful. And honestly, I’ve heard this kind of thing happen many times.

But I also think the company only pulls this on people who are “easier targets.” There’s a very senior HR specialist at our company named Joyce Lee—she’s been here for over a decade. When the company hired an American Product Director named Joyce Lewis, they didn’t ask Joyce Lee to change her name. Isn’t HR data confidential too? 😂

Am I overreacting? Do companies abroad actually do this kind of thing?

Looks like nearly all indexes were down ~10% in the first minutes which halted trading.

They also announced they will be limits on short selling stocks all week:
https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/taiwan-stock-exchange-unveil-more-market-stabilisation-steps-if-needed-2025-04-07/

"The Taiwan stock exchange will roll out more policies in coordination with the financial regulator to stabilise markets if there are irrational falls, exchange Chairman Sherman Lin said on Monday."

I was out drinking with my friend last night around ximen and we walked around the entire area until like 3am. At around 2 am we witnessed a lone shiba inu riding a skateboard and actually kicking the ground with one forearm to propel himself forward. The skateboard was lightup so it might have been remote controlled? We didnt see anyone but the dog just passed by us alone. Has anyone seen this dog? its not just us being drunk because we both saw it

Just finished a 2 week trip around Taiwan. Had an amazing time, I love the country, but the traffic is just different.

For reference I am Scandinavian.

There is a lot about the traffic I can rant about, but I'll dig deep into the highway behaviour.

Most people drive well, but a few completely ruin the highway system. Surprisingly, people keep their speed relatively well. However, this is mainly due to others not driving correctly, making it impossible to pass legally. The largest issue I found is people just lying in the passing lane for no reason.

One example is a 3 lane 110 highway where I saw a family SUV merge from a ramp to the right lane in heavy traffic, then proceed to force themselves out to the leftmost passing lane. After this they slowed to 95 and stayed there for 30+ km??? What is going on here?

If there are 3 lanes you normally keep to the right lane at all times, then when a slower car comes you dip into the middle lane, pass and go back to the right lane. If there is heavy lorry traffic you sometimes remain a long time in the middle lane and the leftmost lane is for passing people who pass others (ppl keeping a little above the speed limit). Even 1 / 20 cars not following this system causes major issues, it also makes it more difficult for all others around to follow the rules.

When a few people completely ignore the rules and just stay in the left lane, the whole system breaks down. This is a bigger issue than it seems. When they are slow in the left lane they slow down all three lanes. It also causes potential deadlocks when a faster car approaches on the right but does not want to break the law by passing there (good). This makes it impossible for the slow car to go to the right lane since there is now a car there. So even if it realizes it is causing issues it cannot start behaving.

Further, it causes the idiots going 150km/h in their BMWs/Mercs to dodge in and out of traffic and pass very dangerously. Most people already pass on the right, causing a general feeling of unsafety when switching lanes.

Also, in Scandinavia, when you come up behind a slow car in the wrong lane and flash your headlights at them, they usually move to the right and act a bit embarrassed that they zoned out. Here, it is generally just ignored completely (I tried it "politely" 4 times but gave up).

Whilst the traffic generally flows OK, this type of behaviour reduces the road throughput significantly and makes the whole highway experience very stressful.

What are your experiences of the highway traffic?

I just recently found out that Taiwan and Somaliland (not recognized as a state) both had sort of embassies in each other capital. I was wondering how Taiwanese people see this relationship since they both lack recognition.

Looking for some local information on ocean fishing, preferably shore fishing but also want to know about boat fishing or charter information around Taipei area. Any information is welcomed!! It would be nice to get some lines wet and feel the tug. Thanks in advance.

Or do you think they are all good?

Hi all, apologies if this has been answered but I couldn’t find an answer that explained clearly my situation. I’m planning to establish my HHR in June (for the first time) and I’m wondering if I’ll have to pay into the NIH. I have US healthcare and don’t need Taiwanese healthcare atm, but I know I can’t opt out anymore. As a result, I don’t mind paying it, but do I have to? If I come back within two years, what are the implications? If I come back after two years, what are the implications? What is the maximum in back payments that I’ll have to pay (unless it is unlimited? Ie, if I want healthcare in 40 years will I pay 40 years of premiums or just two years?)

Also, my mother hasn’t been to Taiwan in over four years and I’d imagine she will have to enter on her Taiwan passport to help me do citizenship processes. She opted out of NIH when it was legal, so when she returns, will she be hit with a huge bill? Her HHR is definitely “moved out”

Thanks!

Is it a thing here for people to never answer questions in the straightest way? I dont wanna sound antagonistic or maybe there is a language barrier and their answers just get translated in a more complex way? Im trying to help come up with an excuse for the way they answer questions.

Like a literal yes or no is what im asking for. For example: “are u able to work on (date)?” And they’ll answer something like “oh i think i should be able to, but ive been coming down with something for a few weeks now.”

So is that a yes or no? LOL PLEASE HELP ME YALL

Hiya! I’m planning a day trip to Jiufen and Shifen. Just wondering—can I use the EasyCard for TRA, or do I need to purchase separate tickets?

Hi Someone told me the pineapple in Taiwan doesn't need to be soaked in salt as it doesn't have the enzyme. Can anyone confirm? Thanks

Hi, I'm a Korean who recently got a job at a semiconductor company in Taichung, and I'm moving to Taiwan soon.

How much
you will spend for house per month considering you will be paid about NTD 64000
per month? Actually, Given that I'm moving from Taiwan to Korea, the amount
isn't all that satisfying and quite expensive housing cost than expected.

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-06/national/socialAffairs/Korean-student-stabbed-in-random-attack-in-Taiwan/2278639

Hello! I wonder if there's a high demand in TOEIC preparation courses/tutoring in Taipei. I got a perfect score (990) for the test with some teaching experience so I woud love to help people prepare for the test. Where should I start? I would really appreciate any insight/suggestion.

Are there any runners here who can confirm if the Taroko Gorge is happening this year? We were registered for last year's run which was canceled due to the earthquake, but are wanting to rejoin when the event is back on.

There are no updates on their website, facebook, and emails are going without reply.

Is it possible for the prices to be discounted for a short while (like the pineapple incident) or are prices going to rise?

I'm headed to Tamsui in a week to visit my dad who recently moved there. I was thinking of bringing my fly fishing rod and hitting the local creeks/rivers and hoping to catch some fresh water fish. Any spots or tips would be great if anyone knows of the fly fishing scene in Taiwan. Do I need to get a fishing license? How do I get one if I do? Is there fishing in the Tamsui river in the city? Can't seem to find any information about fishing there, besides all the catch and cook shrimp farms, and my dad says no one fishes in Taiwan for fun. Thanks!

Hello. May I ask what are the requirements for an OFW returning to the PH (for good) after finishing his/her contract? Thanks.

leica m6 with elmarit 28mm. shot on a mix of kodak portra 400 and 800.