Advisory and consultation service
Advisory on Managing Foreign Employees
This page was translated from Japanese by AI. If anything is unclear, please refer to the Japanese version.
An outside point of contact you can consult on an ongoing basis, so you are prepared when employing and managing foreign and Vietnamese employees becomes difficult, such as how to interact with them and how to give instructions.
By sharing your company's policies, workplace rules, workplace circumstances and history with us, you can reduce the burden of explaining everything from scratch when something comes up.
From small everyday questions and concerns to initiatives your company wants to pursue, we listen as a sounding board for executives and managers.
Our advice draws on 13 years of running a Vietnamese subsidiary and experience working as an executive, a manager and a frontline staff member.
Examples of Consultation Topics
We listen to all kinds of questions and concerns about managing foreign employees. The following are some examples. It is fine if your topic is not clearly defined.
Everyday questions and concerns
Questions and concerns such as how to interact with foreign employees, how to delegate work to them, or whether your current management approach is right. Even if no specific problem has occurred, it is reassuring to have someone to talk to about what is on your mind.
Vietnamese culture and customs
From 13 years of living in Vietnam and running a company there, we can share insights into Vietnamese culture, everyday customs and common attitudes toward work. Of course, this does not mean judging each individual's way of thinking by nationality alone.
Things to look into or new initiatives
Consultations such as wanting to research systems or case studies related to foreign employees, review internal systems, or plan new initiatives. You can talk to us even before you have decided where to start.
Workplace rules and HR systems
We help with how to communicate workplace rules, evaluation systems, wages, promotions and transfers, through creating samples, giving advice and reviewing documents.
If you would like us to create the systems or workplace rules themselves, we will discuss this separately and respond according to the contract terms and scope of work.
Handling misunderstandings and problems with employees
When instructions do not get through, when there are differences in understanding, or when you are unsure how to give warnings or guidance, you can consult with us on how your company should respond. Please note, however, that this service does not provide guidance to employees or resolve disputes on your behalf.
Strengths of HI Cross Management
Experience as an executive, a manager and frontline staff
I have experience as an executive setting company policy, as a manager moving work forward with subordinates and other departments, and as frontline staff doing the hands-on work.
We focus not only on management's ideals but also on whether things can actually be carried out on the ground.
Creating rules that work in practice, tailored to the actual situation
I was involved from the launch of subsidiaries in Vietnam and Cambodia. In Vietnam in particular, I personally created workplace rules and organizational structures as the company grew, and continued to run it in a way that fit the actual circumstances.
13 years of living in Vietnam while running a company
I lived in Vietnam for 13 years and ran a local subsidiary.
Beyond work, I have experienced daily life, the language and relationships with local people. I have the experience of living and working there, which cannot be gained from books or training alone.
Understanding Vietnamese employees
When communication in Japanese is difficult, or when the company and the employee see things differently, we can explain what may lie behind it, based on Vietnamese culture, customs and common ways of thinking.
However, what the employee actually thinks cannot be known without hearing directly from them. As a separate service, you can also request meetings conducted by a native Vietnamese speaker.
Requests That Grow from Consultations
As consultations continue, specific work may become necessary, such as meetings with foreign employees, documenting workplace rules, translation or research.
We take on such work separately from consultation and advice, after confirming the content and fees. It can also be included in a monthly contract in advance.
- Meetings with foreign employees
- Creating workplace rules and documents
- Translation into English and Vietnamese
- Reviewing the wording of internal notices, evaluation comments and similar texts
- Creating Vietnamese explanatory materials and videos on workplace rules
- Using tools such as ChatGPT and NotebookLM so employees can look up workplace rules themselves
How to Use Our Services
Monthly contract
With a monthly contract, we gradually come to understand your company's policies, workplace rules, workplace circumstances and history through regular consultations. As a result, when a problem occurs, you can consult with us without having to explain the situation from scratch.
Not only when problems occur, you can also consult with us whenever needed about everyday questions and concerns or things you want to work on in the future.
A monthly contract can also include, in advance, reviewing notices and evaluation comments for foreign employees, reviewing business reports and sales management sheets prepared by foreign employees, and advice on revising workplace rules. If work not covered by the contract becomes necessary, we will provide a separate quote.
One-off consultation
You can also request consultations only when you have something to discuss, without a monthly contract.
After hearing about your situation, we will let you know the scope of what we can take on and the fees.
Your Consultant
Maeda Koichi
Cross-cultural management consultant
I was involved in running a local subsidiary for 13 years, from the launch of the Vietnamese subsidiary.
As an executive, I not only set company policy but also created evaluation systems and workplace rules, set up the IT environment and personally developed the web systems used in operations.
I have also been involved in work in Cambodia, Bangladesh and Dalian, China.
FAQ
What kinds of topics can I consult about?
We do not limit consultation topics, as long as they relate to employing or managing foreign employees. Even if no specific problem has occurred, you can talk to us about everyday questions and concerns, things you want to look into, or new initiatives your company wants to pursue.
The "Examples of Consultation Topics" on this page are just some examples. It is fine if your topic is not clearly defined.
Can I consult about foreign employees who are not Vietnamese?
Yes. You can consult with us about foreign employees in general, not only Vietnamese employees.
Regarding Vietnam, we can also answer questions about its culture and language, as well as work and life there.
Can I also request meetings with the employees themselves?
Yes. Separately from consultation and advice, we can hold meetings with the foreign employees themselves.
Meetings are conducted in Japanese or English. For meetings in Vietnamese, a native Vietnamese speaker is available.
We take on meetings after confirming the content and fees in advance.
Can I also request the creation of workplace rules or documents?
Yes. If, as a result of a consultation, you need workplace rules or documents created or translated, you can request this as work separate from consultation and advice.
We take on such work after confirming the content and fees. It can also be included in a monthly contract in advance.
Free Initial Consultation
Is there anything about managing foreign employees that concerns you or makes you uneasy?
You do not need to have a specific problem. From small everyday questions to things you want to work on in the future, please start by telling us about it in a free consultation.
After hearing about your situation, if you would like ongoing consultation or specific work, we will explain the services and fees.
Request a Free Initial Consultation