At the Purchasing TH, they came out with the na--d truth. "we realize that RTO really does not serve anyone, but the fact of the matter is that there are building occupancy and other commitments that are already in place that have to be fulfilled". So basically we have these buildings and are paying service contracts that nobody is utilizing. Plus Dearborn and Detroit are whining that the tax credits they gave Ford are not providing them with employee $$$. They don't care that productivity will decrease or that the environment is not codusive to getting work done. The "culture" argument is BS. So folks...let's give them what they want. People milling about buildings for the day. However, we can vote our displeasure with our wallets and become cost burdens. Don't spend a dime in a Ford facility, use free resources to the max, and don't spend a dime of our money within the Dearborn or Detroit city limits. As far as work, since the buildings are nothing more than cattle farms, we should behave as such. Sorry, not going to drive into a Ford building to sit on Webex all day. Sorry, sitting in a noisy building is also not conducive for heads down work. Guess T - Th are now social activity days. So that leaves just 2 days to get work done. Good luck on making your objectives this year Ford.
10 replies (most recent on top)
@OP+1rcoqgAH I suspect it goes deeper than municipalities pressuring RTO.
There is a trend where the holders of corporate debt (aka the lending financial institutions / Wall Street) are pressuring companies to RTO as they also are the holders of loans on commercial real-estate/businesses which are collapsing due to WFH.
As we all know Ford is highly leveraged.
Since the furniture sales man turned Ford offices into call center sardine tins (aka open office) RTO will undoubtedly reduce productivity and increase virus propagation. 85% of the jobs are being shipped to India, so it will be short term experiment.
@1vhq+1rcoqgAH The same people were playing on their phones and cubicle hopping all day in the office. At least with WFH we were insulated from the distractions they caused.
@1vhq+1rcoqgAH Down vote because you said "Farley is right".
@1vrh+1rcoqgAH. OP here, I work over 14 hrs a day and deliver far and above my objectives. People like you are likely the credit stealers that spent their days walking around the office with coffee visiting before COVID.
Why so hostile about RTO and trying to stir problems for Ford people that want to work? You should tell your Na—ed truth about working from home - I bet it will be a real lesson in what not to do in a successful company.
@1npo+1rcoqgAH. At Ford, it has always been about visibility. Management doesn't care much about how many hours you are turning the crank. In most cases, they have no idea how many hours are required.
Corporate tax breaks are valuable.
People managed to be productive and deliver for many years while working in the office. I think they can figure it out again. I must admit, though, the people with their incessant whinning about RTO should stay home. You are probably a pain to even be on a webex, let alone in the same office. Hopefully you got all your home improvement projects done in the last 4 years.
For the people who are not working while at home, the problem is not only them but their boss. Their boss should be calling them on the carpet for not being productive. If their boss is just as bad, then the boss' boss is a problem. This is not rocket science. If Ford can't solve this, Farley is right and we have the wrong people.
@hnf+1rcoqgAH wrote: "Farley's next brilliant idea is to replace laptops with old desktop computers, cell phones with desk phones. For further cost saves maybe we'll get typewriters. "
No, the idea is get rid of the people who have been at home, at 2nd home, other States... supposedly doing work. The amount of stories I've been told including my own of these employee's doing anything but work for Ford and how neighbors should take pictures of these extremely dedicated employee's.
In a moment where the company could lead the industry into the technology space and claim the future of connected work, they once again retreat to their cave. Never to lead and always wait for others to cease the day. Don't think for one minute that some other company isn't going to poach talent by offering remote positions after they once again work to further destroy the company. Would not be surprised that Farley's next brilliant idea is to replace laptops with old desktop computers, cell phones with desk phones. For further cost saves maybe we'll get typewriters.