Toyota to Tundra factory workers: Get thee to a park!

[Narci]

So instead of laying off people, toyota asked them if they wanted tgo volunteer for clean up duty while keeping thier wages.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/24/toyota-to-tundra-factory-workers-get-thee-to-a-park/#comments

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.

[skidz88]

Much props to Toyota, aborbing a huge loss so that it doesn't have to lay people off and put familys through hard times and much stress.

I feel sorry for the people who got layed off in the automotive industry this year, losing their jobs through no fault of their own and forced to find other means to provide for their familys.

[hotweiss]

this makes me want to buy a Tundra

[potato]

good PR campaign.
that is worth millions in advertising.

[Narci]

I followed a link in that original link and it seems autoworkers are never satisfied... hahaha

Why can't people like this work for the big 3?

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/toyota-refuses-to-lay-off-workers-but-has-great-flower-beds/


Toyota is struggling to sell trucks and SUVs like everyone else, but unlike the competition, no full-time workers from stalled factories are getting laid off. The 4,500 workers at idled plants are instead bettering themselves through eduction by taking classes on safety, diversity, and Toyota history. They're also doing community service while on the clock and even some gardening. The workers will be learning how to work faster and smarter during the down time, and are even being shifted to busier plants on a temporary basis to help plants that are working beyond capacity to keep up with demand.

Toyota's plan to keep its workers busy at all costs isn't cheap, as about $50 million is being spent to keep workers busy with training programs. Of course, you can't please everyone and the plan isn't sitting well with all of Toyota's workforce, as workers at running factories don't like the fact that laid off workers are getting a leg up on training. A more skilled plant could have an advantage over others in getting earmarked for future products, so unaffected workers also want the extra training.

While expensive and a bit of a logistics nightmare, Toyota's plan is a good one if you can afford it. It should help create a more loyal, better trained workforce that also forges ties with the surrounding community. We bet Toyota hopes it will prevent any talk of unionizing, as well. And with Toyota's record profits over the past few years, $50 million is a drop in the corporate bucket.