Their job is only to parrot what the LL5 says and to tell the GSR if the LL5 likes you or doesn't like you. They can be replaced by a self-service kiosk and a 1800 number.
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LL6 is actually treated like a GSR 9 but is forced to do PRs and admin work. We need that layer to run the Company. The LL5 layer is used to a pass information up and down the chain, with no decision-making authority, they can go. There are three levels of director LL4, LL3, LL2. They pass information up and down the chain but are the first level that have limited authority to approve things. They can be collapsed into one LL band. The 92+ VP and Presidents around the globe are ridiculous, the "ultimate good old boy club", axe half of them.
look yourself in the mirror... remember point a finger at someone and there are 3 pointing back at you. before you start saying everyone is useless. examine what value you bring.
Agree with everyone mentioning LL5s as a more useless layer. My LL6 filters work coming to our group and at least tries to remove roadblocks that we come up against. My LL5 just relays information between the GSR/LL6 level and the Chief.
LL5s need to be eliminated. Look at Powertrain. They have been operating without the LL5 level for years. GSR->LL6->LL4.
LL5s are the ones that need to go, but guess what? They are the ones that decide if 6's or GSRs should've let go, so guess who gets let go?
My ll6 is awesome and bends over backwards to do what is right. My ll5 is a clueless yes man who only got the job through attrition.
I think the LL6s play some role, at least in theory. There are too many people under an LL5 to give day-to-day direction or to manage your vacation days or provide supervision. What I don't understand is the layers above the Directors. I regularly have reviews with my Supervisor, Manager, Chief and sometimes the Directors. After this, the reviews jump straight to the VPs. yet on paper there are at least 2 more layers in between the Director and the VP. What do these people do? I have never seen them in any review. Serious question. Can someone higher up in the company shed some light?
If 80% of the LL6s have to be fired start with my LL6. She is an id--t. The only task she can do well is reserve a table at a restaurant. She has strong connections with senior managers and will survive. What a shame. This company doesn't deserve to stay in business.
The only LL worth their salt is Cool J.
Although I partially agree with these comments, there are some LL6 that do actually work. Could they cut some and pass the work to the ones that actually are competent, absolutely. However LL5s serve zero purpose. That was proven back in 2018/19 when we eliminated vast majority of them and did not miss a beat and department budgets were more manageable. Now we are adding layers back and each LL5 seems to do want they want from one department to the next within same organization.
I always found them to be way more useful than the LL5s. Still don't know what an LL5 does.
While many are useless, sometimes you will stumble across those individual contributors who don't have a staff. They tend to be tech specs or the ones that generate IP. And a few of them are the old knowledge holders who can solve problems. But I'd agree, 80% are just parrots.
prime candidates to replace with AI
80-90% of the LL6s are useless and can be fired today without any business impact.
There are over 1000 LL6 at Ford. Half of them are useless and can be eliminated immediately. Everything will be just fine without half of the LL6.