E-commerce firm looking to AI to avoid downsizing amid high personnel costs
E-commerce firm looking to AI to avoid downsizing amid high personnel costs
2026-03-17
How expensive is it really to run a small business? In a recent post, online shopping influencer Mr. 486 said that with salaries, labor insurance, and health insurance, on average it costs NT$1.05 million per year to hire a single employee. And amid a challenging economic climate and competition from big conglomerates, small businesses face an uphill battle.
Everyone at this e-commerce firm is handling their own slice of the business. Kai Chih, who juggles administrative and customer service duties, is also responsible for editing videos and designing graphics. But she raves about the benefits, saying it’s a friendly workplace for working mothers.
Kai Chih
Employee
We really can bring our kids with us to work. All my colleagues are super helpful, too. It really makes a difference for a working mom like me. If you wake up and find your kid is sick, it can really drive you mad. So that’s what I like most.
A happy workplace is what everyone aspires to. But for online shopping influencer Mr. 486, it’s tough being a boss. In a recent Facebook post, he said it’s particularly difficult running a small business. He has to compete with big conglomerates while also keeping salaries stable and taking care of his employees.
Mr. 486
E-commerce influencer
Company trips are entirely paid for. Like this trip to Japan cost nearly NT$80,000 per person. A year’s salary is 14 months of pay. Even if the company makes a loss or takes on debt, I’ll still pay the year-end bonus no matter what, even if we have to sell off everything we have.
For the employees, this is certainly money worth spending. But if you look at the numbers, it’s tough to swallow. A random sampling of six employees of different ages shows that on average, it costs NT$1.05 million a year per employee for their salary, as well as health, labor, and other insurance. But Mr. 486 said that a boss shouldn’t complain about economic hardship, even if he’s the only one at the company not receiving a salary.
Cheng Chu-ni
Company spokesperson
All of our employee expenses, including salaries, bonuses, benefits, and insurance, comprises about 40% of our annual expenditure. We aim to take care of all 54 of our employees. At the same time, we’re looking to leverage AI to increase our per capita output. That way, we won’t be reducing our workforce.
By integrating AI to boost productivity and transitioning from leasing to owning its storefronts, the business hopes to stabilize costs against market fluctuations. Ultimately, the goal is to create a win-win for both management and staff, setting a new standard for a happy workplace.
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#ecommerce #employment #businessowner #salaries #smallbusiness #benefits #workplace #AI #downsize
雇1人年花105萬 486先生曝中小企業心酸"靠AI抗縮編潮"
2026-03-17
經營一家中小企業，成本到底有多驚人？電商網紅486先生在臉書吐露心聲，抽樣員工薪資與勞健保等支出，平均聘雇一名員工，一年要花掉105萬，在大環境景氣欠佳、大財團強勢競爭下，中小企業經營真的很辛苦。
走進486團購網公司裡面，員工各司其職，身兼行政客服的凱之，還會剪輯、圖文設計，大讚公司福利，對職業媽媽，很友善。
[[行政客服 凱之]]
“我們是真的可以把小孩帶來一起上班，然後就是大家同事都會很幫忙，這件事情對就是職業婦女來說差很多，因為如果你一早起來發現小孩生病，你真的會發瘋，所以這個是我自己最喜歡，最有感的”
幸福企業，人人嚮往，不過電商網紅486先生，在臉書道出中小企業主心聲，強調老闆非常辛苦，尤其是中小企業，要跟大財團競爭，又要穩定發薪，照顧員工。
[[電商網紅 486先生]]
“員旅都是全額補助，像我們這一次去日本，每一個人的費用是將近八萬塊耶，一年就是14個月的薪資，就算公司虧損賠錢，年終獎金絕對就是砸鍋賣鐵也要給你”
對員工，捨得花，但用數字說話，隨機抽樣老中青三代6位同仁薪資、勞健保和保險，平均一名員工年成本要105萬，486先生坦言，老闆不能喊苦，就算他是全公司唯一沒領薪水的人。
[[486團購網發言人 鄭筑霓]]
“我們所有的人力支出相關的成本，包含薪資、獎金、福利和保險，是佔全年度的大約40%左右，我們希望可以達到，這54個員工，我們都可以把他照顧得很好，那我們反而是希望可以透過AI，來拉高我們的人均產值，這樣的情況下，其實我們也不會有縮減人力的部分”
不只導入AI，提升產值，也把門市資產化，以買代租，避免租金浮動，精準控制成本，就是為了打造勞資雙贏的，幸福企業表率。
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