Toyota to Tundra factory workers: Get thee to a park!
As reported recently, even though Toyota halted Tundra production for a while, the company pledged not to lay off its workers. At a total cost of potentially $1 billion to the company, Toyota instead placed the employees in retraining and civic works programs during a Kaizen and Development Period.What kinds of civic programs? One of them, in San Antonio, is called the City-Toyota Green Clean-Up Project, which has put up to 340 workers on the streets to "clean, paint, and plant." Factory staffers have painted curbs, picnic tables and trash cans, trimmed trees and plants, and cleaned up lots. While employees do want to get back to the factories, they're enjoying the time away and being able to give back to the city -- all the while earning their regular wages and benefits.
A second round of city improvement will begin next month. After that, Toyota expects to have all hands on deck again at the factory in November, building 2009-model-year Tundras. Thanks for the tip, Mike!
[Source: My SA News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
USCGTO 10:38AM (9/24/2008)
One hell of a move on Toyota's part.
Maybe add some tree planting and nothing beats this attempt at "going green".
while the big three are going deep into the red (atleast for north america), Toyota is just expecting lower profits.
Way to go.. oh and I hate Toyota, just like the idea of utililzing the idle workforce..
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why not the LS2LS7? 10:39AM (9/24/2008)
In order to avoid a UAW jobs bank-type situation they've created their own jobs bank. Well, I guess the advantage is they can discontinue this at will without having to go to contract negotiations first.
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snakesauasge 10:40AM (9/24/2008)
Only in Texas....
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Alex 10:49AM (9/24/2008)
I'm willing to bet Toyota is seeing tax credits for sending their workforce out into the city to do volunteer work on Toyota's dime.
I'm not complaining or being cynical. I think Toyota, and any company, that pays its employees to do community service projects deserves a little financial pat on the back.
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Franz 11:24AM (9/24/2008)
+1
Temple 12:18PM (9/24/2008)
Not likely, regular salary paid to their contract employees can't be a tax written-off. Also, doing community service in general is very hard to write-off, especially if the work done is for a public park rather then a non-profit charity. Very unlikely Toyota is making a dime from this.
Also, if all you had to do to keep your workers paid is have them do community service and you get a big tax write off; then all companies will be doing it.
Its a PR move, spreading good will to the people of San Antonio where the plant is located, and a demonstration to the UAW showing they won't lay off workers willy-nilly in hopes of not unionizing the plant. Its not entirely self-less, but not selfish either.
Kotse 4:26PM (9/24/2008)
Definitely, a X2!
MajorGeek 10:50AM (9/24/2008)
Interesting, and frankly, a brilliant PR move. Win, win for everyone.
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TJ 10:51AM (9/24/2008)
how... progressive.
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Erik 10:52AM (9/24/2008)
That's pretty cool.
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JZeke 10:59AM (9/24/2008)
This is what the Japanese have been doing at home for years in lean times, I'm really happy to hear Americans seem to be taking to this kind of work with positivity. I hope the idea influences other companies.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:30AM (9/24/2008)
"The Japanese" acting this way is largely a myth. Only top-tier companies (like Toyota) have "employment for life". Most of the work making a Japanese car (or other product) is done by contractors and subcontractors, and those companies do not offer "employment for life".
I tried to give a reference to where I got this info, but the book I learned it from has been out of print for a very long time it seems. Sorry about that.
gtweis 11:01AM (9/24/2008)
In Toyota land this is progress...but only as a ploy to avoid workers getting up in arms aka union demands.
They learn so fast from the mistakes that Detroit made by letting the UAW control their labor.
+1Toyota
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Way of the Future 11:08AM (9/24/2008)
the workers on more than one occasion have voted to NOT have union representation.
gtweis 11:15AM (9/24/2008)
If there is no reason or spite to unite under then there is little incentive to form a union I believe. It's just wasteful.
Way of the Future 11:07AM (9/24/2008)
good ideas from a good company!!
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Bonita 11:16AM (9/24/2008)
Excellent thinking by Toyota. Imagine that: a huge automotive corporation who actually gives a rat's *ss about its #1 resource . . . its employees.
Ford, Chrysler, Generic Motors -- are you listening?
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Jei 11:26AM (9/24/2008)
And to add:
The civic work just isn't helping to keep the environment look great, it's also helping Toyota to keep its employees busy (getting natural exercise); and not sleeping late and basically doing nothing until the facilities re-open.
Gary 11:32AM (9/24/2008)
That's was UAW's job to "take care of employees". And look where it put the big three.
Jei 11:23AM (9/24/2008)
The Big 3 needs to do that in Detroit. Along with cleaning, painting, and planting; they need to get them to volunteer in their local school districts and help educators keep their children in classes so, in the future, they won't have to worry about plant-closings/idling like their parents.
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