Thread regarding Ford layoffs

OP is a troll.

I know you don’t want to hear this but voluntaries will have little to nothing to do with in-voluntaries. There could be a subset of voluntaries who are on the involuntary list, too bad for those voluntaries as they lose out - sweeter deal to get cut. Otherwise the in-voluntaries will not change, thinking otherwise is old-Ford-think.

Many of the retirement eligible are not even thinking about retiring now because they know interest rates will adjust again in the future. AND their most pressing need is steady monthly income. Many intent to ‘work’ until 70 and start taking SS at 70.

These are on the whole thoughtful posts, but I don't think they even know yet. Remember that retirements will most likely take out a huge swath this year as interest rates will be sharply higher on the lump sum. Ford works to total attrition/separations.

The key thing is that they won't know how many retirements until about late Oct when the last day for voluntary separations using the much lower rates is Dec 1. If people retire Jan 1, their lump sum will be much lower using the higher rates. The reductions could be as high as 30%+ so this will be very significant.

The point is that it will be very difficult for them to plan involuntaries prior to in and around that time because of the high variability in these numbers - my guess is that this will be the highest exodus of people all at once in several years. If Ford throws a voluntary sweeter in with this, unlikely in my guess, the numbers could be borderline staggering. Bottom line is that I don't think they will pull the trigger on very large involuntary numbers prior to in and around that time, if at all for 2022, without knowing the vol situation. But then again if their goal is just to get people out the door at all costs than all bets are off- this could very well play out this year as well. 2023, however, will be a different story and back to the involuntaries- looks like A, B, C is coming back.

Dealing with management 101.. when they say there will be no layoffs or deny it, then it’s true. Its probably decided two months ago. They are working on the later rounds now if there are any. Remember they plan this stuff way in advance. Your LL6 may or may not be in the know. They are only pawns. You have to pay attention to the words and actions of your manager and higher if you have the access. Ask indirect questions and review their answers and body language. Interpret there answers and you will know the truth

If you are just now starting to prepare in the event of a layoff, you are too late. You need to have emergency fund.

LL2s, as well as LL3s, LL4s are not going to tell you anything. They are just interested in protecting their grossly overcompensated positions. We have the wrong talent, wrong processes, wrong skills? Who establishes those processes? The same people who have been responsible for one failed reorg after another are still there, collecting big bonuses.

Your LL6 and LL2 will lie to you. When it comes down to it, they don’t care about employees. Understandably, they only care about themselves. Don’t trust anyone there. If you feel like your job may be in jeopardy, you should switch jobs.

This site is full of rumours, but the reason this site is active is that all signs of layoffs are bright red. Anyone with any experience in the auto industry knows cutbacks are coming. Economy in recession, messages from management, industry shift in product, change in where investments are being made, organizational restructures, work increasingly being done out of Mexico and China, phase out of retirement benefits - what evidence do you need?

Maybe don't believe the dates and the emotional pressure stuff. But certainly, as the company has stated through its CEO many times, as well as from business experts:

• Ford has to reduce cost rather significantly
• Jim F said Ford needs the right talent, indicating the current talent isn't the right one
• Ford needs to rid of product liability cost either by improving quality (LOL) or by handing off this responsibility to "Full Service Suppliers"
• Departments have been restructured multiple times over indicating leadership changed plans
• Ford has been split into three or more fractions, splitting up the company likely to prepare for something
• Ford is in "talks" with VW and industry experts have long indicated Ford is not positioned to survive on its own; an American has a lot more say in Germany (VW) than in Japan (Toyota) or China
• Ford has build a Development Center in Mexico and India and Mexico PD has grown by multiple hundred percent, beginning to have some real program responsibility

But you can ignore all of the above and instead focus on what is not verbalized:

• Has upper level management promised your job is safe and you are needed to build the companies future? (such promise would at least last 2-3 years if not longer)
• Has the company said over and over they need to increase their stock value?
• Have there been high and unexpected losses in the company, that is, certain programs not delivering the intended EBIT margin?
• Have company leaders been drawing rainbows in the sky lately?
• Have your job responsibilities significantly increased lately? Not all the talk coming from LL2 and above but have YOU noticed your job growing?
• Does it feel like your role is key to something or is it becoming obsolete?
• Has your job d-mbed down?
• Do you suddenly have a new, young colleague doing what you do?
• Has your LL6 distanced themself from you?
• Did you end up on the blue side of Ford?
• Are you mid-aged, say 35 years or older?
• Are you male?

In any case, DO NOT go nuts. It isn't worth it and it will not fix anything at all either.

Figure out what you really spend per month. If there are no savings, consider a line of credit or a personal loan from family. Have a buffer of a half year if you can swing that. That will keep your nerves calm and you can look around a little and see where to go. It will also allow some quality time with family. When do you ever get this much free time in this country? Of course, in between jobs! Yolo a little

I recommend getting on the ball and get the interviewing skills up to top-notch, best time to look for a job is when you have one. Things are going to get really rough around Ford, same as for the rest of the company, so being ready to jump to somewhere better is a good idea. Just don't let anyone know that you're interviewing, it's none of their business and can hurt you if mgmt gets wind of it.

How do you know when Ford's Manglement are lying to you? Their lips are moving.

Former Ford employee here; let go at end of April action from a supposedly’ “safe area’ - Model E. Not all that bitter, as I had been thinking about leaving the last two years anyway. In fact, kicking myself a bit when I had a chance to take a VSSP deal when I was in MSS in 2018 - 18 months pay at that time.

Posting here to make two points:

(1) Forget about the concept on ‘safe’ areas. From what I observed from what and who I know that got Lee in April, it will be more about your current job role…., non technical job roles like Product/Project Managers, Anaylsts, and LL 6 of non technical teams etc, are in real danger of being let go.

(2) There is a tell. If your printer and copy functionality suddenly changes where you can’t print out or copy to a drive anything that is Ford related and/or has meta data labeled it as Ford document, congratulations you won the bring let go lottery. Had this happen to me a week before my meeting with my LL 4 to tell me I had been selected to be let go. Confirmed with a LL6 friend on mine the same thing happened to him, too. Asked the LL6 I reported to about it and she had no idea

Bottom line if you notice something like that (and others have also posted similar things happened before they were let go on this forum) or any other anomaly with your work PC related to data and you can’t get an answer, assume the worst and start mentally preparing. You’ll have about a week in most cases…good luck!

Just remember even in these recessionary times, there is work to be found. Since May, I’ve already had two interviews (lost out on one job) and have two more interview lined up in the next week or so - and they called me, I did not call them, The process is moving slower from what I can tell, but there are firms hiring now. Take good care and to all good luck!

Why to trust in a management that would be hiding and lying. Take control of your future. Nobody has the right to make choices on your future.

Everything now is super secret so Ford has the advantage and the employees to be separated are kept in the dark to the last possible minute. Advice? Realize that Ford's intention is to send as many white collar jobs out of the US as possible. Why else are they building these giant tech centers in MX and India. Everyone should consider the clock ticking on their employment. Upgrade your resume and skills. Unless you are among the last with retirement, look to better deal Ford while the job market is good. Once the tech centers are capable, there is going to be a mass moving of the majority of remaining white collar out of the country. Has been the plan for years and senior execs have all been a part of the planning and will continue to lie or avoid telling the truth about it.

Your LL6 won't know cr-p. Plus, the LL2 won't and cannot tell the truth. They've been sworn to secrecy and signed an NDA. This is not a rumor, this is a fact.

You should prepare yourself for the possibility of being laid off regardless of what your LL6 told you. You were never guaranteed your job until perpetuity just because Ford hired you. And it is your responsibility (not Ford’s) to keep your skills up, resume updated and network to give yourself options when needed.

Your have also seen Ford’s track record, the signs of recession and comments of the current leaderships so we all know additional layoffs are indeed coming. No one can give you any specific info ask explained by the previous posters. So as the head of your household it’s your responsibility to get things together to plan for that possibly to the best of your ability.

LL6 are unlikely to talk to LL2 at Ford.
LL6 are just as information deprived as GSR

Prepare and interview. You don’t have to accept jobs you are offered. You will feel better by taking actions.

Last round of layoffs were decided at the LL4+ level and they had signed NDAs. LL6s didn't know they were coming until the day of. I would guess any rounds in the near future will be handled the same so your LL6 is probably not lying as they don't know. LL2 probably isn't able to say if they do know.

That being said, take what you read here with a grain of salt. There are plenty of people here making stuff up. Management have been clear though that the April layoffs were not the last so I would expect another round sooner rather than later. Will it hit your individual department? Hard to say.