Ford sends not-so-funny joke to fired worker
Michael Stawasz was one of 4,000 salaried workers at Ford who lost his job last January when the company launched its Way Forward restructuring plan. Stawasz was nine months short of his 30th anniversary with Ford, which meant he narrowly missed being able to retire with full benefits. About two dozen other ex-Ford employees are suing the company to get the benefits they feel they've earned, so imagine Stawasz's surprise when he received the above certificate in the mail along with a letter from Bill Ford Jr. congratulating him on 30 years of service.
Does Bill's well wishes mean Stawasz and his colleagues will be getting their full retirement benefits? Not according to Ford, which says it didn't mean to insult but rather wanted to honor the defendants. Also included in the package from Ford were plastic rings to determine the right size for a celebratory ring and a catalogue from which to pick a gift. Full retirement benefits were not to be found in the catalogue among the gifts for which Stawasz was eligible.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Steve 3:15PM (6/12/2006)
Wow, that's below the belt.
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doug 3:25PM (6/12/2006)
Typical bureaucratic incompetence. Probably got sent out because the "awards dept" didn't know they'd all lost their jobs. Right hand..meet the left hand. I am sure it was not malicious, and most likely unintentional.
Still, I am sure it feels like a sucker punch to those that got the awards.
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Fazzster 3:26PM (6/12/2006)
harty har har......
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Dave 3:32PM (6/12/2006)
Ford does it again, either they screw a customer who buys there car, or an employee that was days for 30 years service. What a bunch of idiots at Ford, why would anyone want to buy there products?
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John 3:36PM (6/12/2006)
Whoa, I cannot believe that Ford asserts that they sent these things out to honor those they laid off with a certificate. Somebody had to give this thing a green light and approved sending them out. That person ought to get his own certificate and a boot out the door.
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Noah 3:39PM (6/12/2006)
It will only further add to their court case. I'm pretty sure these people will be getting their desired package.
--Noah
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Dr. Woo 3:39PM (6/12/2006)
Who thought this was a good idea?
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digitalzombie 3:41PM (6/12/2006)
that's pretty great investing your life working for a company you have so much pride for and then you get it in the ass.
Ford is such a great company. Give out those freebie ass rape.
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Ford Wannup 3:53PM (6/12/2006)
Bill Ford: do the right thing. I am sure there is no one in your organization malicious enough to intentionally cut out long-serving employees approaching 30 years of service just to save a few pennies, and they just happen to be part of the larger group of employees to be let go. However, you must be aware that respectable companies often bridge the time to full retirement benenfits for those employees in exactly this kind of situation, i.e. less than X number of months to retirement, and in good standing. Do the right thing Bill. Tell us the numerous touchy-feely "we innovate, we're the best, we care (for customers, shareholders, EMPLOYEES)" ads, starring...YOU!..., are for real...and not merely expensive photoshoots. Thank you!!!
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epilonious 3:58PM (6/12/2006)
someone call a whaaaaaaambulance
Companies have done better, companies have done worse. Ford is a large corporation that is trying to completely change the way it does business (hence, restructuring). So if some automatic process in the HR department isn't updated properly, it may be a faux paux, but otherwise it's just another corporate whoopsie from yet another faceless car juggernaut.
Maybe if they had bought the guy some hookers and booze a-la VW he woulda felt better.
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mike 4:06PM (6/12/2006)
there should have been a link in this news story so that anyone who reads it can send an email to FORD congratulating them for being giant asses to this worker. I went to their website and the only corporate email address i could find was for investor relations. so that's who i sent it to.
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Dr. Woo 4:17PM (6/12/2006)
epilonious: So if some automatic process in the HR department isn't updated properly, it may be a faux paux, but otherwise it's just another corporate whoopsie from yet another faceless car juggernaut.
Did you miss this excerpt?
"[Ford] says it didn't mean to insult but rather wanted to honor the defendants."
Sounds like it was intentional to me.
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Quality Weenie 4:20PM (6/12/2006)
It's just a mistake, those peoples names are in the computer system for a long time and when their anniversary date popped up someone just sent out the standard congratuations certificate.
I worked for Ford and quit in 2000, 5 years later I was still getting internal employee stuff in the mail from them including the packet for the free computer.
Those people should stop complaining about how it was cruel of them to do that. It was a mistake, that is all.
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Paul 4:26PM (6/12/2006)
sounds like a CYA move to me, SPIN... thats all that is. It was a screw up and now they are trying to save face.
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iQuack 5:13PM (6/12/2006)
Sad, insulting, and incompetent. Just like the crap the company builds.
No surprise at all!
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John 5:16PM (6/12/2006)
I am one of the first to say buy American.....but If I was one of those Ex-emplyoee's I'd run to get a Toyota and pull up in front with your lawyer......9 months short of full benefits........That just sucks!!!!
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Presto 5:48PM (6/12/2006)
I like how Ford put a positive spin on that one. I'm calling it a mistake that nobody wanted to admit.
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beken 6:01PM (6/12/2006)
It doesn't surprise me. Ford has a big bureaucracy and the left hand doesn't usually know what the right hand has done. I know exactly how Mr. Stawasz feels. Where I worked, I received a plaque for working 20 years and the next week, I was "downsized". Three months later, I received a letter that scheduled me for training to work on a "special project".
Having said that, most companies who claim to treat their employees with respect would give some form of continuance if the (former) employee's tenure was within a year of specific milestones.
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Razib Ahmed 6:06PM (6/12/2006)
" Full retirement benefits were not to be found in the catalogue among the gifts for which Stawasz was eligible."
I wish that Ford bosses give the workers the full benefit. It is really a sad matter for the workers.
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GEORGE GRILLS 6:33PM (6/12/2006)
IF THE CEO IS FIRED HE OR SHE USUALLY GETS SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS. CUT BACK ON GOLDEN PARACHUTES AND TREAT THE REAL PRODUCERS FAIRLY. FORDS DEMISE IS MORE THE FAULT OF MANAGEMENT THAN WORKERS.
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