Thread regarding Ford layoffs

People I talk to that have to watch what they spend are buying Honda or Subaru. Best quality warranty for the buck. Train station looks pretty silly now. The Oakwood campus redo isn’t needed now. If you can’t make money selling a small car you are done. Hacket was another drain among others on Ford profit. So sorry4youBill.

Litmus test. On a battlefield would you want to be in a trench with any of these “leaders” ?
My answer, Oh Hxll No. I would trust any of them.

Prepare for another round of fabricated critical skills flagging of friends, relatives and collaborators. Followed by reorgs and laying off of people who are not critical skills.

I keep in touch with some of 2019 SRD, it is interesting that several had planned to retire in Dec 2019 so the SRD was a blessing for them yet they are quite sour on Ford because of how it was handled. The cowardly LL3, LL4 and LL5 couldn’t even be bothered to thank them for the 25-35 years of service, and yet coworkers including the LL5 were calling asking for their help post SRD. Which surprise, surprise they were unwilling to provide. It is a real shame that Ford alienated loyal employees. It is no surprise that these ex-employees are driving Honda’s, Toyota’s and Subaru’s now.

The leaders lack courage and basic people skills.

I get that the company is in deep trouble. Why can’t the leaders put on their big boy pants and address the fundamental Ford problem of bloated, ineffective, inept management.
From the cheap seats it looks like all the SRD did was eliminate all the non-managerial LL6 aka the people actually doing work and setting direction.

I saw the huddle and what I saw showed a lack of balls by Jim Hackett & James Farley. They should have been the ones to talk about the VIP. Then to paint a picture like there is nothing wrong. I guess those $78 million dollar bonuses paid off. I give Mark Fields credit he gave ample time before the offers went out to prepare. not one week. So much for transparency and courage. After what I saw Billy, Jim 1 & Jim 2 say and do to this company since 2017 I have two words.. "LUMP SUM"..

Your welcome! - I've found this is dangerous ground to navigate. I will accept offer and retire overseas ASAP. I love Ford and truly believe it has been extremely generous. i will work hard down to the last day. I'm glad you have a plan. I had one too but needed to modify it due to CoVid-19. Just be aware you might have to adjust your plan as well. We have "Career Navigator" but no "Retirement Navigator"

Thanks to @mjs+16K4GNVH and @tdt+16K4GNVH for the information about timing for planning retirement and the fact you can reset it within 90 days......much appreciated!

So, the plan is this.; complete the due diligence in reviewing the VIP plan stuff, but will decliine....but at the same time plant the seed with management that I will br submitting for retirement first qtr 2021. Wait as long as possible , maybe until March or April, then apply for retirement 180 days out . Don't think they will tag me for layoff if I already apply for retirement, and if my areas happens to go through the exercise we all think is coming around May, then I could always recind the retirement application if I really don't want to retire.

Goal is to extend employment into 2021 as long as possible, as it will take awhile to find another job and also trying to relocate due to a famliy issue (Mom out of state, and needs someone to look after). Don't know if it will work, but is a thought. After well over 20 years of causal overtime, don't feel I own Ford any favors, and have to look out for my family.

Totally agree with @1jqd+16K4GNVH. That huddle was a disaster. If you are the primary income earner for your family....make your escape plan. This leadership team is ......questionable......

A few of us worked with Farley. We feel he often plays to the Ford family and ignores the rank and file. Elena seems to worship executives and seems to want them to be god-like. So when those Farley and Ford were together we hear stories about Farley racing vintage race cars against the Walmart heir, Elena complaining that the Hampton's Lincoln dealership is not really in the Hamptons....

They are truly different and used to getting their way.

Jim Farley really needs to learn how to read a room.

Seriously, as people have mentioned, this was not the meeting to show off your McMansion and Trampoline.

Also, why have Kumar be the whipping boy? You're the CIO, Farley, you should show some leadership and deliver the bad news yourself.

Furthermore, Jim Farley's public speaking leaves a lot left to be desired. He comes off as very

• just ignore any of the bad stuff
• timid/not confident

10 years ????? Ford will be gone in 5 or absorbed by another car company. No leadership but hey they are green, invested in Corktown, and are politically correct. If you are younger than 60 start look for another gig.

Bad management makes bad decisions that lead to bad product. We all know Bronco and F-150 launch will be a disaster. GM and FCA will respond with incentives and F stock will fall like a rock in water. We have not yet seen the bottom of the trough. Stay tuned, more pain to follow.

"Eventually I don't know what will be left in the next 10 years."

That long? We just burned through $7-8B with a "B" in the last two quarters with no end in sight. I can show you financial math that confirms a downward spiral supporting that this won't last anywhere close to that.

Cringe worthy is putting it mildly. First it's Hackett sitting in a dark room with rich mahogany millwork. I believe that is the "cabin." Spouting off project Apollo platitudes. Ok we get it, good faith initiative, but it's not why 99% of us are here. Then it transitions to Farley and more b—s— talk with the trampoline reflection which means no one was listening and wondering wtf is going on, and now I want to pass it onto Kumar to tell you the bad news. I have heard Kumar talk in person, and he is a sharp pencil, but you could just see it in his body language that his hubris was extracted. And then back to Farley for more lipstick. Of course Bill was nowhere to be found; nothing but a county club coward. I liked Q&A where they went to Hau and it was dead air (intenional?), and then he chimes in later and looks like he is ready to fall asleep. My question is why aren't these highly compensated individuals at least sitting in the glass house when they give the message? Anyone who walked away impressed, I need whatever d–g you are on because that huddle set my mood for the day. And maybe Bill wasn't there because he is p-ss-d off that once again he chose poorly. It's sad when a company can't figure out what to do with staff. I swear every year I have been there it has been wrought with blunder and surrender. Eventually I don't know what will be left in the next 10 years.

Get axed? Stop buying their products. Every five years some shift show named improvement process. If this was legit, some of the Real Fords should leave. They are getting old enough to pursue other activities. Sure! They never will.

You can also k–l it midstream and re-start it. Pretty good deal.

You can plan 180 days ahead for your retirement.

Yup, kinda of amazing it went from 1,000 to 1,400. And why did it fall to Kumar to give the bad news, why not either CEO?

Anyhow, I know I am retirement eligble, so I expect to get the email from HR or a meeting with my people leader by next week. If my wife still had her corporate job (she was packaged on in Novmver last year), it wold be a no brainer for me to take the VIP. H owever, she doesn't and on top of that, due to issues with her's Mom's failing health, we are going to moving down south so she can take care of her Mom. M boss is OK with me doing that for this year, but what will happen come January 2021? Her om is 82, so situation will not be getting better, but she will not necessarily die, either, before end of the year. They have already announced knowledge workers returning to the office in Germany next week and UK next month, so you now it will be ending her in US, too.

Does anyone know this - can I set a retirement date for a planned future date, like in 2021. For instance, can I go to my boss in early Jan and say I want to retire at the of 2nd quarter 2021? I am thinking that might get me out of coming back into a building so I can contune to work remote, and also buy me time and avoid the involuntary, as well as look for another position. Where could I find out that answer - the always helpful (NOT!) NESC?

It’s already up from 1,000 to 1,400. By the end of the year they will be adding another 0 on the end, the way we are going.

Yep. S—s to be YOU but I'm ok. A ton of you peasants need to go so I can continue to pull in a multi million dollar income. How about we just cut 50% of the highly paid executives and not replace them. Talk about bang for your buck. We fail because of them, not the lower paid minions.