Thread regarding Ford layoffs

Are you safer from future layoff by staying at lower pay grade?

We've heard the phrase "up and out promotion" before. I've seen it happen especially for limited availability positions....IE new manager comes in and they have a buddy they'd love to give a promotion to, but even managers have headcount targets and can't necessarily create new Senior Engineer positions..so they find a way to force out someone currently in that position so they can give it to their friend.

For departments with many GSR engineers, in-line promotion can bring you from a 6->7->8 eventually with no tangible difference in responsibilities.

My question is during layoffs.. do you think you'd be safer as a higher paid lower GSR.. or at a higher GSR and lower on the pay scale? I know there's dept headcount reduction targets during cuts, and they can be based on X number per GSR.


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| 1801 views | | 18 replies (last January 10) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1kec0eyf5

18 replies (most recent on top)

@f5 Well, I've survived every layoff and have been promoted 3 times since I've been at Ford, but was never at the top of my pay grade. Maybe that's the trick?

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Post ID: @rd+1kec0eyf5

Your safest if you stay at home and never get a job in the first place... Life is full of chances go for it. If one door closes, and you are good at what you do, another will open.
If you've worked your way up to a higher salary it must mean that you have the chops. I'd say - and sadly so - age is a bigger threat than salary. Long in tooth and high in pay = watch ur back 'cuz that's where HRs spreadsheet cells turn red.

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Post ID: @r1+1kec0eyf5

@ez and we are seeing the results now, 160+ recalls. Maybe more this year.

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Post ID: @ff+1kec0eyf5

@ez If you're not paid for what you're worth then you are just letting the company take advantage of you. Maybe some people are okay with that because they're not confident to venture out to get their worth.

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Post ID: @f5+1kec0eyf5

@ez that was a popularity contest in my area agree with gsr to ll comment below

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Post ID: @f0+1kec0eyf5

@d3 - Don't you recall when the Boston Consulting Group came in and looked at similar positions and salaries? Most of the people who were higher paid were let go in 2022.

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Post ID: @ez+1kec0eyf5

@cz

I don't agree with this if the increase in grade is from GSR8 to LL6. This is where you have to seriously think about your future. Yes more money, but think about the responsibility you are taking. All positions are different but you'll need to consider if the money is worth it and the necessity of a management lease. Lots of people see management leases as a perk, but they can be a pain in the rear if you dont need another vehicle.

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Post ID: @ey+1kec0eyf5

Why can’t you go for the max income you can get? The company can let you go anytime, you’re just a rounding error in the balance sheet, so why bother thinking a higher income would be bad.

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Post ID: @d3+1kec0eyf5

In the past, obtaining GSR 8 could be challenging, and individuals would occasionally be stuck at GSR 7. This was an indication to either rotate or leave, as they were not well-received. However, simply being a GSR 7 does not automatically make you a target. In recent years, I believe the progression to GSR 8 has become more of a given for most teams.

To your manager, it's not difficult to switch a position from a 7 to an 8 requirement, so the infighting for “Senior Engineer” has largely subsided. While being high or low in your band doesn’t put a target on your back, lack of progression and the high cost compared to the value it provides do. Headcount reduction targets don’t use that level of granularity.

My Advice - Don't be silly, take your increase in grade, you earned it, say thank you, and in two years, start asking how you can get to that next level.

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Post ID: @cz+1kec0eyf5

Grade 6 and 7 are the riskest. They are peasants positions from Ford stand point. No value and easily replacable every 2-3 years.

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Post ID: @cx+1kec0eyf5

No, it's not that granular..LL5 + yes

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Post ID: @ce+1kec0eyf5

@bd, @bd, this is probably true, but the person should take a step increase from 5 to 6, and so on. This is the typical progression in most groups. I argue that you risk staying in the same grade at a higher pay, but a grade promotion doesn’t put a target on your back. Instead, it would place them in the lower end of the next bracket.

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Post ID: @be+1kec0eyf5

You want to stay right at the average for your pay range. When you get to the upper levels, you're more likely to be targeted for removal.

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Post ID: @bd+1kec0eyf5

I'd say no. Given Ford executive leaders have no issue throwing billions out the window for their poor ev and quality decisions....why would a few thousand a year make a difference at all in the bottom line?

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Post ID: @b5+1kec0eyf5

You are safer as a lower paid GSR. You never want to be on the high end of your pay grade.

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Post ID: @ar+1kec0eyf5

Nope. Does not matter if they deemed a whole group is not needed. There is no individual person layoff, that's being let go for either performance or behavioral reasons.

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Post ID: @ap+1kec0eyf5

Moderately safer maybe...but for the amount of BS that increases and politics you have to play coming out of a GSR position...why in the he-l would you want that? If there is pressure on you to rise through the ranks, that is a good indicator it's time to leave on your own, it will only increase.

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Post ID: @an+1kec0eyf5

No

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Post ID: @af+1kec0eyf5

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