Thread regarding Ford layoffs

I know this sounds silly, but practice your response to being let go.
Deliver it to yourself in front of the mirror until it feels natural and your facial expressions align with your message.
You know “Wow this is great! Thanks for the memories and experience. Best of Luck to you.” All delivered with an upbeat almost thankful way, you know the reaction of a man on death-row who just got a last minute pardon.
When the time comes the message will be second nature and you can leave on a classy note while at the same time not giving the LL3 any satisfaction. If they ask about your plans just say You prefer not to disclose them and exit stage left.

The trick I wish I had known in August:

Log into gmail. Start draft emails attaching anything you want from your work laptop to those draft emails. Don't send.

When you log into your Gmail from another computer, all the draft emails will be there with that attachments.

Someone mentioned that they had 3 hours. Many lost access within minutes of their 5 minute firing meeting.

Also, the firer will offer to answer questions. But won't give any real answers to your questions.

P.S. Ford sucks

"Do not purchase extra vacation. It does not get reimbursed."

This is true. And should be the subject of lawsuits.

If you have management lease vehicles, go to the management lease site and get the letter that proves you have had auto insurance for all these years. (It’s there with the insurance cards. you just have to look for it). It is expensive to get insurance when you can’t prove that you’ve had it for years.

I've thought a lot about your question. I was SIRP'd last August. And everything posted here is true and very helpful. I wasnt able to email my resume or PRs to myself or save them to any external drive.

There is one thing I wish I had known that we haven't really talked about here.

I genuinely hope nobody reading this gets laid off. But if you do, just know that you WILL get through it. You will find something else and you will keep moving forward. It may happen fast or it may take some time. But you will get through it. Try not to let it keep you down.

I was devastated when it happened. Not that I loved Ford - I hadn't really been happy in years - but I did genuinely believe I would retire there. And losing a steady paycheck will always be shock. It rocked me emotionally. It was like a state of controlled panic and constant sadness.

But I did get another job. I happen to be happier here than I ever was - or ever would have been - at Ford. And this time around I have learned to prioritize myself over any company I work for.

Now I know that if I ever do feel unhappy at a job that I will seek out something else that does make me happy. And if I ever do get laid off again, I am not going to be as much of a sad and panicked wreck. I will know that I can get through it. And so can you!

By working for Ford you have already taken the 1st step in preparing…

Maje hard copues of policies. Get Cobra information. Copy contact info for those you want to stay in touch with. Make a copy of everything in HR! Change your myfordbenefits email to your personal email. Change every account you refer to with x-x.ford.com. change your phone # too. Make a copy of separation/layoff policy. Copy your inbox to an external drive.

Get references...

When I worked for another OEM, I made significant contribution in areas that helped other people become more efficient and effective. Made a lot of work friends over the years, and there was significant respect on the floor. Then came the date I was slated to be laid off/fired/let go. Despite having a policy against endorsing and generating references towards individuals, a significant amount of people on that floor went against policy and did so anyways. A small letter of reference, usually a paragraph or two from dozens of co-workers.

I generated a multi page reference sheet based upon those words of appreciation. I removed the last name, only first initial. I removed the company, because they weren't acting on behalf of the company to give that endorsement.

In my interviews, the look on the hiring managers face(s) when I supplied sheet, after sheet, after sheet, of people that endorsed our prior working relationship. Needless to say, in a matter of one week, as oddly timed as it all was, I had three job offers. It was the first time this has ever happened to me in my working career, but it was also the first time I've ever utilized the leverage of the kind words of my co-workers.

Do not purchase extra vacation. It does not get reimbursed.

Use up your sick and personal business days... you only get paid for unused vacation.

change myfordbenifits contact info from your ford cell phone and your ford email. because you will not be able to change passwords or get any account info. after you are let go.

USN ports are locked down, it's difficult to move you personal corporate information off the system. E-mail you paystubs and other personal information to you home monthly. On 8/22 I just had three hours to get critical personal information off the system before it was shut off. Fck Jim Farley, Bill Ford, Kiersten Robinson, Doug Field, Boston Consulting, Deloitte and the rest of the Sns of B*tches that created this mess.

@OP. Get the contact info of the ones that you'd like to keep in touch. Save your personal info (if any). Update/verify your access to NESC, myfordbenefits, VIA benefits, and other websites you'll need after layoff/retirement. Make sure that no personal account is linked to any Ford email or phone number.

Especially for long time Ford employees, sometimes the lines are blurred between work and personal space. After leaving the company, some realize the verification to access some personal stuff is the no longer reachable phone/email from work.