Thread regarding Ford layoffs

Unfortunately that article is pay-walled, but I'm not surprised to hear it. I suspect mgmt probably got wind of that pretty early on and that's why Two-Jims made sure to specifically mention at the GTH today that there won't be a need for individuals to RTO unless needed for collaboration. Of course that's weasel-worded, but that's always the case.

GM plans have been put on hold due to backlash. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/general-motors/2022/09/28/gm-pushes-back-timeline-bringing-employees-back-to-office/69523481007/

No it wouldn’t @3nzw+1iSauaga. The whole point is voluntary resignations of the non-compliant. Lower cost replacements would be onboarded

@3nzw+1iSauaga you're forgetting the Mexican workers will go into the office at the Mexican tech center for 1/2 of what you will. It may end up catastrophic and horrific. But Farley only cares about cutting you and your huge salary for workers that work for much less.

If Ford does not allow workers to wfh, the consequences would be catastrophic and horrific.

@2iux+1iSauaga
Wake up! You are going to be replaced for cheaper foreign labor regardless!!
How naïve do you have to be to believe that your job is going to be saved because you drove into the office three times during the week. Use your brain!

If you permanently WFH what makes you think your job won’t be outsourced to a cheaper country? This is playing right into their hands.

I'm guessing this just means people in the area will be encouraged to come back in. Since Ford doesn't have a backbone only the true sh---y LLs will require RTO and the rest will be fine. We don't have enough space anyways with all the campus stuff going on. 2024 might be different

This will just cause more distractions and disruption in tumultuous times. We are still reeling from a reorganization not to mention people who will be retiring at the end of the year.

There are teams that have a mix of fully remote employees and those located in Dearborn.

There are leaders who are fully remote.

For the employees who prefer to work remote (many who have moved to MI in the best interest of Ford and their career) will be required to come into the office while their teammates (who didn’t have to move or chose to move elsewhere) and leaders do not. I get it. Life isn’t fair, but this doesn’t sit well.

Employees are a company’s greatest asset. It’s too bad Ford hasn’t figured that out.

It doesn't matter if you have permanent WFh status or not. They can and will revoke it at their convenience, regardless of where you live. If you live 500+ miles away, looks like you'll be hotting in by plane to fulfill this arbitrary requirement.

You WFH'ers are just so wrong on so many fronts.

Of course Ford will follow GM. RTO is one of the planned voluntary resource trimming activities. Ford knows many of the older workers have relocated to Florida, Arizona and Texas, RTO will thin the ranks.
Those who don’t voluntarily retire this year to avoid 20% lump sum will then be hit with RTO in 2023 and the dissolution of the pension in 2023. Those with a pension will have a one time lump sum deposit into their 401k equivalent. The lump sum deposit will be using the new interest rates, which are favorable for Ford dispatching their future pension obligations.
Those of you nearing retirement need to meet with a financial advisor/do your own research and make sound financial decisions. Head in the sand is not wise option, this is not your father’s Ford.

I swear gif the e-suite characters just does understand employees. No wonder they can’t fill all there empty slots… very few really want to go work in an office anymore. Moving work overseas as they are doing will work temporarily, but in the long run they, too, will start to rebel.

It’s not us old farts either, it is the gen Z that is driving this. In EC area, they hired over 1,000 remote that never set foot in Michigan. They are not moving to Michigan just for a job. So, what are they going to do - get rid of all of them? I can’t speak for GM as I don’t know how many they hired during lockdown - but it seems they would hand the same issue, as well.

Of course, everything is going to he-l anyway nowadays, so guess it does not matter. Only a nuclear war reset will clean up this mess.

I’m very pro-WFM and on a team with several members spread out across the country. Even with a RTO mandate, we will still use webex for any team meetings. So what’s the point of RTO? Any employee that isn’t responsible enough to do their work at home won’t be doing their work in the office. The only thing lacking from remote work is the occasional in-person socialization/team building which could be accomplished quarterly to the same effect. I had to laugh at GM emphasizing maintaining their culture as a reason to RTO… Does anyone outside the C-Suite actually want to go back?

Does Ford even have office space to support RTO?

This will be like musical chairs. Get back into they office. If you don't or are one that doesn't get a seat you get SIRP'd.

By time Jim and Bill are done there will be plenty of space! Also the new development center in Ol'Mexico is barely 1/4 filled.......so far.

PDC remodeled?!?!? Huh? That place is a disaster area dump. All the zones/areas around the atrium lobby are still as they were for years. We recently had some meetings there and the only nice thing about PDC was that its easy to find parking now.

@zyk+1iSauaga,

Plenty of office space. In fact, several buildings have been remodeled. The PDC building has been remodeled, I don't see WFH going forever.

Does Ford even have office space to support RTO?

GM didn't provide a timeframe for RTO. Therefore, it is more of an empty threat, with more bark than bite. I'd expect FMC to wait for GM implementing it before forcing it down our throats.

I am still expecting RTO for next year, after we get ridden of the remaining layoffs this year, all the people retiring now, and perhaps after the first round of layoffs in 2023. Thinning the employee numbers would make it easier for the company to mandate RTO in the few existing buildings.

LL6s like to abuse GSRs in person. ABH (Abuse From Home) does not work as well because once the GSR hangs up the phone (closes Teams), the PTSD does not linger as long. The GSR swears a bit and then has a nice evening.

Bankruptcy

Likely that this will provide Ford cover to request similar. I know a lot of people in the LL ranks are struggling to show their worth without in person face time. Put in your request for "full remote" status now.