Back to the Office Cooler? It Might Not Happen for Some Ford Employees

By now, most Americans are sick of seeing the inside of their own homes, but not everyone falls into that camp. There’s pros to go with working from home that, in some cases, outweigh the cons.

Ford Motor Company, which sent 30,000 U.S. employees home amid the coronavirus pandemic, wants to hear from this cohort on whether remote work should become the status quo.

Not for all, probably, but maybe for some. As automakers figure out how they return to normal operations in a world plagued by a lurking virus, the benefits of keeping a contingent of employees out of the office are clear. A depleted population in non-manufacturing work spaces would lessen the likelihood of a viral outbreak. Maybe Ford could shut off the lights and save some cash that way, as well as do away with cleaning and screening procedures.

The environment would breathe easier with fewer commuters on the road, and other drivers would, too. Consenting adults might be tempted into fewer marriage-destroying affairs.

As reported by The Detroit News, Ford has begun surveying the 30,000 housebound employees for their thoughts on how the company should move forward on the whole office life thing.

“We’re going to learn a ton between September and December,” Ford’s chief human resources officer, Kiersten Robinson, Ford’s chief human resources officer, told the paper. “I do anticipate we will have some employees who would like to continue to work from home indefinitely.”

Earlier this month, Ford announced that its salaried workforce would remain working from home until September. Other automakers find themselves grappling with the same issue. It’s unlikely any will see things truly return to normal without the discovery of a effective coronavirus treatment or vaccine. Face-to-face meetings, crowded rooms, and general duration of exposure to others are all risk factors in viral transmission. And wearing a mask indoors all day long sounds exquisitely hellish.

From The Detroit News:

The survey will ask remote employees whether they would prefer to return to the workplace; take a blended approach that allows them to alternate between remote work and coming into the office; or work remotely on a permanent basis.

Whether employees who wish to work remotely full-time will be allowed to do so will be determined based on conversations between the employee and their supervisor, Robinson said.

Since the company restarted its factories, some 100,000 Ford workers have returned to the production line, along with with 12,000 non-manufacturing employees whose jobs can’t be accomplished remotely. The remainder will apparently dictate their own futures.

[Image: Ford]