"No one is having conversations about reduction in the workforce," said Kiersten Robinson, chief people and employee experience officer at Ford. "Our focus is really on how do we pivot and continue to evolve how we're working."
33 replies (most recent on top)
Well Our Group VP of HR has as much credibility as that Pinocchio puppet on the coke commercial. I am surprised she can get into a car with that "NOSE( must have a moon roof)". How do you trust a person who goes into a town hall and smiles after announcing the SRD? I am sorry nobody likes to see people get walked out.
Weather you are Management / Salary / Hourly / Agency you can see the cuts coming. Just look how they rolled out the recent packages LL3 on down...
Pivot! Must be the new buzz word for reduction....
My children (millennials) all chose non-Ford vehicles even though they had A-Plan available to them.
The boys bought Toyota Tacoma’s. The girls Toyota Prius, Subaru Outback, Honda Civic.
People will buy what meets their criteria on the affordable, reliable, safety, lifestyle matrix.
The boys looked at F150 but they were too big and did not fit into the garages in their starter homes.
Also the price to value ratio did not work for them.
Until the affordable, reliability and safety components are satisfied, attracting new buyers will be difficult.
@2gsz more delusion/shill/false hope. Just because you see a bunch of yuppies with man buns and yoga pants drinking at the local coffee shop does not mean they support local/domestics hollistically. Chances are all of them have cell phones that were made in China or South Korea. I even saw a newer employee in his 20s that works as an engineer buy a new Subaru even though Ford put bread on his table. See BMWs, Porsches, and other Asian nameplates in the parking lot when we were in the office. Most owned by younger employees, and these were new/newer cars. Point I am making is if we can't convert GenZ employees to buying vehicles from the company that puts food on their table, how can we even assume to have presence with people who don't even work for Ford?
"Gen Z buying local" yeah, they will buy the services of the local Uber and buses. Buy local to Gen Z will means they buy from the local Toyota dealership in town. Gen Z will reason that since, Toyota is built in Kentucky that means they are American vehicles.
Gen Z is into “buying local”. So it follows that they will gravitate towards American cars. With Ford having the largest domestic part count of any oem it only accelerates that point.
I have supervised UAW line workers. I get it there was corruption and it was handled. I also get that people see UAW as a bunch of loud mouthed fools. Oh, they are loud alight, but they are not fools...
@1chx Hi Jim, nice to know you peruse this board. You are truly delusional. Ahem, gen Z don't even give a c-ap about cars, and time will tell if that changes as they age. They can't even afford a new car. What makes you think Toyota, Honda, Hyundai/Kia are going to lay down and permit the domestic industry to rise again? If anything they are accelerating and preparing the death blow to the domestic industry. The last bastion the big 2 have are full size truck and suv, everything else was lost due to inept leadership. The only import company that may break this barrier is Toyota when the new Tundra comes out. The turnaround you speak of would take 10 years, and not only does the company not have enough money to do it, the bigger problem is ineffective leaders do not get out of the way and step down. Shear pride and delusion keeps these people in the same seat FOR YEARS, with zero opportunity for someone to ascend the ranks to make a positive difference. And replacing said leader with a DEI candidate produces the same result: poor leadership.
" If Imports changed ‘their parents’ 30 years ago, Domestic can and will change the Gen Z and more, for sure, they just need visionary leadership instead of bozos of the 60s. "
If they bust up the "U Ain't Working" UAW and change the leadership they "might" have a chance.. however, the only way that will happen is after chapter 7 bankruptcy.
“... There are customers in their 20s that even their parents never owned a domestic car, can't change that.”
Totally wrong!
If Imports changed ‘their parents’ 30 years ago, Domestic can and will change the Gen Z and more, for sure, they just need visionary leadership instead of bozos of the 60s.
I remember 08/09. 08 was rough, and when 09 started they did another round. Here's the reality, LL or GSR, we are on a sinking ship. And I do not mean on a company level, but on a region level (SE Michigan and other Midwest areas). You point me to any industry that replaced what was there with the same equity share and I will call b—s—. Amazon for example is b—s—. Reality is the world no longer values what this region produces. That said, there will come a point where it all dries up.
History repeats itself. Look at the British auto industry (Austin, British Leland, Morris, etc.). All gone. Why? Sh– product, labor unions that were out of control, and all around bad business cases. They could no longer sell their junk even to their own countrymen it was so bad. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. The Domestic 2 are in the same boat right now. Go to the coasts or any major city (Chicago, New York, LA, Atlanta, hell even Texas major cities) For every domestic 2 on the road there are 10 imports. And there is no going back ever. EVER. So we can putz around with Bronco this and Mach E that, but that will NOT convert import customers. A Bronco will just keep the Chads we already sell F series to, and Mach E will retain the Escape Karens that want to be trendy. That train left the station 30 years ago and is out of sight. There are customers in their 20s that even their parents never owned a domestic car, can't change that.
"I'm actually wondering if you are one of the many working in such isolation that you are like some in the past who were genuinely shocked during cutbacks when they got tapped on the shoulder. "
Yep, I've seen that happen to people in the past. It finally it sinks in... oohhh this is what everyone was talking about... I thought they were just "whining" and "complaining" for no reason. Then to make matters worse ... they find out that most of the job postings on the internet are fake.
@1lff+1a08R4iv
Not sure what "your "7" objectives in Career Nav are, however most of us have to support "The Plan" that has 9 sections with numerous line items within each that then role down to actions. You may want to read up on The Plan and think about how leadership would go about executing The Plan. The strategies they've been communicated. One poster noted very accurately what, as we'll as observed you must not be in leadership or very naive. Or, perhaps the work you do is so down the rabbit hole you are not actively working at the larger organizational level. I'm actually wondering if you are one of the many working in such isolation that you are like some in the past who were genuinely shocked during cutbacks when they got tapped on the shoulder. Time to pop your head up and notice what is happening around you so you don't end up with the same fate. Good luck honestly to you.
Post ID: @1hlv+1a08R4iv
I stand by my statement. I'm not in management and the objectives were cascaded from our LL4' objective list.
Good thing we don't work in your organization. Looks like you are in for a rough year!
Also consider those never hired in the first place that demonstrated those traits at during the interview / selection process. Certainly, potential great employees were not even given a chance if they fell into those two classifications. Slimebll management only wants to hire slimebll candidates.
@1lff+1a08R4iv you must not be in leadership or very naive to make that comment.
It was on mine and others cascaded objectives to shift to a much higher mix of lower cost employees. All USA attrition to be replaced by Ford of India employees; all open positions to be filled by Ford of India; Encourage and assist employees on their retirement journey; Find methods to automate and/or outsource functions.
@1rfp+1a08R4iv
Yep an LL5 told me the two types of employees he disliked and relocated/traded/purged were
the financially independent employee and
the young employees not motivated by money/status/power but by doing the right thing and making the world a better place.
He had no way to control or manipulate either of these employees
Both of these categories would speak the truth and advocate for doing the right thing, often making the LL5 look like a fool.
It is amusing as these two types of employees have the characteristics Ford should select for ( and proclaim that they do want ), yet they actively and systematically purge these types of people.
I suspect the upper Echelons like Bill, really do want a better class of employee , but have no idea how to change the Ford culture. The truth is a massive purge of the leadership ranks / entire purge would be required as nearly everyone in the leadership ranks protects the system that they successfully manipulated to climb to power/status. Swapping CEOs has had zero impact on the culture. We enjoyed a Hiatus from a lot of the BS leadership and HR games while Mulally was here, but as soon as he was gone the leadership games resumed. Ford is about making careers not making cars.
@1ygj+1a08R4iv
Just double checked career navigator (if you know what that is) The word reduction is not mentioned in any of the 7 key objectives listed. Surprisingly neither is efficiency. Overall they are very people centered.
It's easy to see by their comments that a lot of posters on this website don't work at the company, just professional complainers.
Most young people coming out of college are pretty idealist when it comes to their first big employment opportunity. As with everything else, things in our career and life continue to change over time and some of us don't adjust well. Personally, I have had good experiences working with the people 20 and 30 years younger then me in the company and won't be retiring old, jaded and bitter. Maybe just old. I wish them well.
"No one is having conversations about reduction in the workforce," . Just WOW, that is such a bald faced lie. Can't believe she didn't just burst into flames saying it. As we speak, groups are being directed to identify jobs and roles to be eliminated, sent to MX, China, or contracted out to other companies. Heck, it is even clearly spelled out in our 2021 objectives. If you can't save money on parts, management's go to are reductions.
Yep, My house is paid for also. I can relate. I also was once the young enthusiastic guy, and I have seen plenty of data and facts getting dismissed away.
I remember when I was the young enthusiastic guy..... I would think "what's the deal with that guy?" then gradually I became that guy as I lived through act after act of the bizarre dishonest corporate theatre production where feelings, politics, and diversity trumped data and facts.
There was a guy we were pushing to shape up some process stuff at a small company that we were reorganizing. He told me and the other young engineer "I'm all for change, my house is paid for" which was basically like saying you can only push me so far I can do without this job. My last two jobs my house was paid for ...... and I really understood what that guy was saying thirty years ago.... and I didn't have to take a lot of the bs that was pushed at me.
Me thinks she does protest too much
Yeah sure things are looking up 50 billion valuation with 150 billion debt , one strong wind away from collapse.
The constant PR campaign in the media smacks of desperation. The more sunshine that is pumped the less people believe.
"All negative comments are from Ford competitors trolls. Let’s make Ford great again ! My millennial friends we can do it, let these old timers complain here all day long. They need something to keep themselves busy !"
We old timers used to be just like you... it seems like yesterday.. you're time is coming. Just wait for a few more SDRs and Out of Touch Leadership makes stupid decisions making everyone's life miserable except their own. jUst gEt ANothER jOb!! Oh wait you brought a house.. and another job would mean a two hour commute every day. Not to mention all these auto companies copy each other. Life is easy when you're single and just have an apartment. Just like that insurance ad... you will turn into your parents.. you will turn into your older co-workers.
I just love working with like minded positive people (irregardless of age) but you should know the post is from Rose, a female boomer. Let’s chill on discrimination including age. I’m ok but yes the older white men in tech have been targeted so you can’t blame them or other groups for calling this out. Forced ranking hurts morale I agree but it’s been around since early 90’s or (or always?).
Age and attitude depend on the person not the category (age/race/s-x).
Someone at Ford actually has the title of "Chief people and employee experience officer at Ford"
If that title/position actually exists at Ford....just Wow! No wonder Ford is so screwed up and the products s— so badly!!!!!
Well, she also said "Our focus is really on how do we pivot....". I guess the word "pivot" is some new type of business vernacular/buzz word for having lots of recalls and screwing over our actual customers.
All negative comments are from Ford competitors trolls. Let’s make Ford great again ! My millennial friends we can do it, let these old timers complain here all day long. They need something to keep themselves busy !
Things changed when they started force-ranking people. Everyone knew it. Not the way to get everyone to work as hard as they can and build teamwork. Now they are paying the price.
I can relate to the post. When I first joined Ford I loved the diversity, enthusiasm and intelligence that I saw among my co-workers. I was proud to be included in such an impressive team that felt like family. Everyone seemed to also be happy to be included in the “family” and I never heard anyone say anything negative about Ford. About 10 years ago something changed and I started to see the team spirit crumble. People complained a lot, became cut throat and the culture became every person for themselves. As with any company your view of the company directly relates to how you view your leadership and I can’t say if the change was company wide or mostly in my organization but it was certainly a change for the worse. For the good of Ford I hope this poster is seeing a new trend because that attitude is necessary to make positive changes.
Millennial, I remember being just like you, thinking what is what with these "old" guys... seems like yesterday. Your time is coming.. things are going to get worse for the company and the country. One day soon you will understand.
I think the post has a point. Maybe some employees (or online trolls?) just need some cheering up. As an IT professional/ millennial I find inspiration in and enjoy learning from the positive energy in this 1 min video. Maybe a remake of this but change the theme to Ford?
https://youtu.be/oLDECtanlp0
I don't trust what the chief people and employee experience officer says about anything........ but if it was the chief of diversity, inclusion, and equity (DIE) then I would believe every word of it. Because morality.
BS.....as someone else aptly said in this forum before....Ford is in coma....has been for many years now.....companies like BCG mint money from such companies for aslong as the heart is beating.....I say just pull the plug.....let it go away like the 120 other auto OEMs did in the last hundred years....
That’s a bunch of cr**. It’s sad, but the Ford glory days are over. It’s a slow death that has begun.
Hmmm
Yep. Right