I was wondering how people are doing if you were terminated in August. I was one of those and still come to the layoff to find out what is going on at Ford. 38 years at Ford ended in a 3 minute meeting. Still feel like I need to go to work on Monday. Wondering who is doing my work? Two and a half months have passed and still feel shocked. Wish I had time to say goodbye. Wish I had closure. I gave my life to Ford. I was loyal to Ford. I was always trying to improve procedures and was successful for many. Trying to find myself in life after Ford. Really should have been prepared and always thought it would never be me in this situation. How are you doing?
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@2krc+1jtAQQIV. Same here. It was definitely time to go. Getting out with a severance package was a nice added bonus. I would have happily left at the end of this month with the pension lump sum. Besides, who wants to stick around with this bumbling management? Getting dragged around by yes men LL4s going all in on one agenda after another over the last several years has been too much to take.
Sorry that you feel that way, but think about all the people who were let go who didn't have a pension or enough severance to last them until their next job.
I had well over 20 years when I was 'involuntarily separated' in 3 minutes as well. I couldn't have been more excited watching my manager sweat while I was beaming on the inside. I not only saw the writing on the wall but was going to leave anyway because of the pension interest rate changes. Got my 9 months severance, 9 months insurance, paid unused vacation, and Right Management (who turned out to be really good). Now I'm looking for employment but on my terms, waiting for the right opportunity. Not missing the rat race one bit. I would have also liked to say goodbye to a few folks and helped my people transition, but that wasn't my decision.
Why loyal to a company after you retire? Ford should just be a memory (good or bad) for you. Life outside of Ford will now give you a better perspective of what's important and who you need in it. Look forward, not backward.
Anyone working in Ford for over 10yrs without a giant list of minority, wheelchair, color blind, depression or straight out cross dressing is endangering themselves!
OP, 38 years! That's awesome. By my math that means you are roughly 60 years old.
My advice? Forget how it ended. You've got a retirement, and you get to retire at 60. You know how many people would ki-l to retire at 60, set for life?
Now my other advice. Stop bleeding Ford blue. The company doesn't deserve your loyalty. Never buy another Ford vehicle, support competitors instead. Heck I still work here and I will never use A-plan again!
Enjoy your life. Forget Ford. Enjoy the second half of your life. Congratulations!
OP here. Hahahaha first person to comment thinks I am a troll. Ford was my one and only job. I bleed Ford Blue. Not weak and not complaining. Just wish that it ended differently. It is like I designed a dock. Sourced the materials for the dock. Built the dock with friends. Escorted coworkers off the dock when they wanted the leave. Then when I am standing on the dock, someone kicked the back of my knees and pushed me off the dock.
Got booted in August after 21+ years of solid service. I know it wasn't performance related and was simply cost. I was an "expensive" employee. Not expensive like Billy or Chris's cousin expensive, but GSR expensive. I realized that I was just a number on a spreadsheet and that was that. I wasn't quite ready to go but I wasn't asked. However, I'm not sorry I'm gone. Not even a little bit. I stopped trying to make sense of management actions long ago.
I took my parting gift and left with a smile. I took a bit of time and went over my financials and thoroughly modeled various scenarios. Everything came out aces pretty much no matter what. I'm completely debt free and have lived well below means. I took the opportunity to flip the bird to the corporate world. Stick a fork in me baby, I'm done. Oh, and retirement is fantastic.
Jeez you guys
@OP its a hard adjustment. Be kind to yourself and know that others have had similar experiences. Some people are over Ford in a few weeks others it is a six month adjustment.
Try developing a new routine. Take a walk first thing in the morning then do something fun to you (hobby/socialize with non-Ford/whatever), soon you will be excited to get up in the morning and you will have forgotten about your old routine.
38 years is a long time. Enjoy your retirement. There are so many wonderful things (of your choice) you can do in retirement. It is not worth worrying about this stupid company.
38 years…why????? Let a new person take your seat. No one should be caged up for 38 years….30 and out…enjoy your time on earth.
With 38 years, wouldn't you have taken the grp lump lum next month anyway?
Huh? You have something very few people have a pension and loads of cash from working 38 years. Your complaining!? Come on... If I didn't have to work, I could write a book called, " What to do when you're retired."
Also you can always join the REAL world and find another job! Just like the countless others with no pension or loads of money.
People wonder why companies don't want to hire older employees.
You have got to be kidding. Troll.
Such weakness on display cannot be real.