An older, very successful relative asked me how I feel being part of the team that is running Ford into the ground. I had to admit that I feel powerless to change the things that need to be changed.
From now on, I’m telling people I work for Elon Musk.
Leader is too generous of a term. Supervisor or Manager is what we have.
The mediocrity of group think is the most supervisor and manager aspire to.
Any underling aspiring to change things will be bopped on the head, if message is not received a swift kick out the door.
"....I had to admit that I feel powerless to change the things that need to be changed."
Bad leaders make us feel that way. They don't empower us as good leaders do. The senior Ford leaders are, collectively, the worst we have had in my 20 years!
"....I had to admit that I feel powerless to change the things that need to be changed."
Bad leaders make us feel that way. They don't empower us as good leaders do. The senior Ford leaders are collectively we have had in my 20 years!
No need to be embarrassed for bad decisions of others, as long as you are doing your best. While you can educate the ignorant and doctors can medicate the crazy, a worker can't easily fix a stupid leader.
Ford is a different company than what it was when i hired in. I saw the decline after F2000 management changes were implemented (2000 CY & beyond). And the product and new segments we entered reflect that. The mid 90s product was planned under the old regime and staffed pretty much before F2000. And you were proud to say you worked there in the 90s. 2000s after Nasser and Billy took over things started to decline. in the early 2000s.. the market hit 17mn units and we could not make any money. Alan comes along and for a moment there we seemed to bring back the glory days. but for some reason AM retired 18 months before his initial date . WHY? Mark was not bad he tried to keep to the initial plan Alan set up. Now we have a furniture guy running things with the family pulling his strings. The family needs to step back. One of them ran the ship and we nearly went chapter 11. we have $155nb debt. we make 90% of our profit on one vehicle. We need a product guy to run things a real car guy.
Last I checked, Ford is an at will company. You are free to come and go as you like. Save yourself from further embarrassment and turn in your resignation.
In this day and age, I believe that loyalty is the problem for most workers at any job. The company expects 100% undying fealty to them while they show none for their employees.
Pay raises become scarce or a flat percentage is assigned to everyone. Benefits get cut. Being underpaid. Tenured employees are the first ones shown the door when cuts are needed when the company goes through lean times. Pressure(s) to work 10, 20 or more hours a week with no added compensation. Forced rankings with standard promotions and raises (or no promos and raises). Focus on the negatives and not the positives. Failure to celebrate and reward successes. Total ignorance of leadership. I'm sure I missed many more.
I understand you can always find another job, but that is easier said than done. Too many factors to consider to just pick up and relocate. And the economy always plays a role.
Work conditions at Tesla are not all that rosy either. Just google "work conditions at Tesla". There are a number of articles listing the complaints and state investigations into Tesla' poor treatment of it's hourly and salaried workers. Even with that said, I do not define myself by where I work. My name isn't on the front of the building. The high level decisions are made way beyond my pay grade, why in the world would I feel embracement over a company I work for? If I felt that strongly about it I would find another job.
@2cty But the Execs/VPs making those destructive decisions will eventually cost a lot of people their jobs. Maybe even yours. Keep your options open!
I a fine telling people I work for Ford. All three companies getting sh–ted on whether its Ford, GM or Chrysler. Its those Damn Unions I tell ya, overpaid and bringing the company down. LOL
If you take this seriously then you obvious take everything seriously. I do feel fine working for Ford but I am not making company wide destructive decisions so... maybe that is why.
@1mwn+15sdnUTf has it right!
In 2008 layoffs the LL5 had flagged all his buddies and the LL6 buddies as critical staff (could not be selected for cut, even though they were poor performers). I had Busted my tail and had Top Achiever rating every year for nine years straight. When the LL5 told me I was not critical staff and therefore could be laid off, I immediately began looking for other employment. Word got back to LL5 that I was interviewing. The LL5 told me behind closed doors that I was not on the lay-off list and to please stay at Ford. I did not alter my plans, when I found the right position for me I jumped ship. Best decision ever. Lower stress, more challenges, better pay.
I found the whole Ford lay-off process to be sleazy.
Even though the LL5 and LL6 provided the names of people to axe. They make it appear as though they were given the names and had no control. Not the kind of people I wanted to hang around with.
Just take the money and run.....no need for philosophy talk
I don't think you need to feel that way. Actually, Ford still has a good brand and I am proud to mention that I worked for it. Auto is a cyclical business, and this will continue for the foreseeable future, except much worse with exacerbated competition.
Having said that, I am glad I left Ford 11 months ago for a 30% salary bump. The redesign is the third reduction that I went through. I am a top performer with a promotion to LL6 8 months earlier, but I started looking for another job when the third one was underway. I didn't want my employer to tell me "we have looked at you and you can stay." No, I decide my value in the market place.
What are you even talking about? Have some respect for yourself. I have worked outside of Ford for 28 years for state government and private companys. Ford is a good place to work period. To be honest you have been spoiled for too long. Look in the mirror and you will see you are the problem hand out expecting Ford to give give give. I came to Ford a few years ago and if they decide to let me go down the road so be it. If you are good you will find another positon somewhere else. Life goes on.