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Toyota pays workers to "keep busy".

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It has nothing to do with being nice. It's cheaper this way. Temp labor which is easily replaceable was let go of course.

It costs a lot of money to get a worker up to speed. So the philosophy is use this time for kaizen and yokotan actvities because it costs more money to lay off an retrain.

-edit-
I think in industry norms are 6 months for a worker to get fully competent at the positions they need to be.
 
Originally posted by: boomerang
Toyota is in the business of manufacturing cars and trucks. Paying workers to do anything other than that, is unacceptable in my opinion. The bottom line is all that matters and layoffs will help that bottom line.

Assembly line work can be done by anyone. No education required. The thought of them giving them additional training on work that any numb-skull can do just boils my blood. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Could be worse, like many US auto makers, it could take them YEARS to retool for smaller cars.

I mean c'mon how could US auto makers not see that coming. "Hrm, rather than watching trends I'll scratch my ass till the last minute." :roll:
Click to expand...
Is this post about U.S. automakers? Stay on topic please.
Click to expand...

You obviously do not think highly of PR.
 
I wouldn't think of trying to tell a well run company like Toyota how to run their business. I'm sure if a stockholder is unhappy they will be able to find a buyer for their shares.
 
Now substitute GM everywhere it says Toyota in that article. What are your thoughts now?

The domestic auto manufacturers do basically the same thing. When things slow down, they start training. When things really start to slow down they put people in jobs banks where they can do public service projects. Yes, it's voluntary to do so, and I don't know if it will be at Toyota.

Eventually they lay off.

So, as I said in the beginning, substitute GM or Ford or Chrysler for Toyota and what are your thoughts? Good, bad, what?

Is that good PR? Is it good business practice? Does it make sense to do this?

 
I think Toyota is over rated but this is a sound business decision for the short term. Their bottom line is going to take a hit this year with this and other problems though.
 
How dare they waste stockholder money on unproductive workers. They should just act like an American corporation and maximize shareholder value-by laying off thousands. 😉

Oh wait, their stock is doing much better than the US auto companies.
 
Originally posted by: boomerang
Toyota is in the business of manufacturing cars and trucks. Paying workers to do anything other than that, is unacceptable in my opinion. The bottom line is all that matters and layoffs will help that bottom line.
Click to expand...

This is very simplistic thinking. You're not factoring in employee morale and its effect on productivity, the cost to lay someone off, the cost to find and hire someone, the cost to train someone, the cost in decreased productivity before an employee is proficient at their job. You're also not factoring in the PR benefit of not laying off employees, and the community service.

The article said this is a 3 month shutdown. If it's just the three months, the costs I listed above will outweigh what the employees are being paid during that time.

You say layoffs will help the bottom line, I say that's not so certain.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: boomerang
Toyota is in the business of manufacturing cars and trucks. Paying workers to do anything other than that, is unacceptable in my opinion. The bottom line is all that matters and layoffs will help that bottom line.
Click to expand...

This is very simplistic thinking. You're not factoring in employee morale and its effect on productivity, the cost to lay someone off, the cost to find and hire someone, the cost to train someone, the cost in decreased productivity before an employee is proficient at their job. You're also not factoring in the PR benefit of not laying off employees, and the community service.

The article said this is a 3 month shutdown. If it's just the three months, the costs I listed above will outweigh what the employees are being paid during that time.

You say layoffs will help the bottom line, I say that's not so certain.
Click to expand...
Toyota can lay them off and tell them that they can't work anywhere else, then snap them back up in 3 months' time.
 
Originally posted by: boomerang
Now substitute GM everywhere it says Toyota in that article. What are your thoughts now?

The domestic auto manufacturers do basically the same thing. When things slow down, they start training. When things really start to slow down they put people in jobs banks where they can do public service projects. Yes, it's voluntary to do so, and I don't know if it will be at Toyota.

Eventually they lay off.

So, as I said in the beginning, substitute GM or Ford or Chrysler for Toyota and what are your thoughts? Good, bad, what?

Is that good PR? Is it good business practice? Does it make sense to do this?
Click to expand...

I'm not a domestic car hater by any means. I would much rather buy an American car than a foreign car, and I look forward to the day when I can get the same quality in an American car and at approximately the same price as a Japanese car.

So my feeling would be the same if it were an American car company doing this. On the other hand, I think you would not have left the important 3 month detail out of the OP if this were an American car company. American car companies don't pay their employees for not working because it makes good business sense, they do it because of their union contracts.
 
lol i love the spin on this worthless article

until assembly resumes in November
Click to expand...

This is no different then when my ass was sitting in a cube in public accounting doing nothing during the down season. This isn't even close to the UAW job bank.
 
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Either Boomerang is artfully concealing an agenda or, we're doing his homework for him.
Click to expand...
No, no homework. And I wouldn't classify it as artful.

An agenda? I suppose. I'm trying to point out some of the extreme bias I see here against domestic auto manufacturers. The auto business is in a downturn right now and a foreign manufacturer is doing the same thing the domestics do.

I know that no one will believe me when I say this, but I really don't get any enjoyment in pulling people's chains. That's why I'm fessing up and putting it to bed.

I didn't get the responses I thought I would. Kudos to ATOT today. Most of the arguments were of the common sense type. I think it's nice to see major corporations have a heart. Wherever their roots may lie.

Edit for spelling - as usual!
 
Originally posted by: boomerang
Toyota is in the business of manufacturing cars and trucks. Paying workers to do anything other than that, is unacceptable in my opinion. The bottom line is all that matters and layoffs will help that bottom line.

Assembly line work can be done by anyone. No education required. The thought of them giving them additional training on work that any numb-skull can do just boils my blood. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Could be worse, like many US auto makers, it could take them YEARS to retool for smaller cars.

I mean c'mon how could US auto makers not see that coming. "Hrm, rather than watching trends I'll scratch my ass till the last minute." :roll:
Click to expand...
Is this post about U.S. automakers? Stay on topic please.
Click to expand...

GO fuck yourself. Your entire post is incorrect, obviously you have never worked any kind of line job. When you get off your parents tit let me know.

:asshat;
 
Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Originally posted by: boomerang
Toyota is in the business of manufacturing cars and trucks. Paying workers to do anything other than that, is unacceptable in my opinion. The bottom line is all that matters and layoffs will help that bottom line.

Assembly line work can be done by anyone. No education required. The thought of them giving them additional training on work that any numb-skull can do just boils my blood. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Could be worse, like many US auto makers, it could take them YEARS to retool for smaller cars.

I mean c'mon how could US auto makers not see that coming. "Hrm, rather than watching trends I'll scratch my ass till the last minute." :roll:
Click to expand...
Is this post about U.S. automakers? Stay on topic please.
Click to expand...

GO fuck yourself. Your entire post is incorrect, obviously you have never worked any kind of line job. When you get off your parents tit let me know.

:asshat;
Click to expand...
My, my, my. And to think I said please.

I said a few posts up that I was just posturing. I adopted the position of UAW bashers (like yourself), applied it to Toyota and you get all riled up. I apologize for that.

I worked blue-collar jobs for about 40 years. Many of those supporting line jobs. I understand the nature of the work very well.


 
Originally posted by: boomerang
Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Originally posted by: boomerang
Toyota is in the business of manufacturing cars and trucks. Paying workers to do anything other than that, is unacceptable in my opinion. The bottom line is all that matters and layoffs will help that bottom line.

Assembly line work can be done by anyone. No education required. The thought of them giving them additional training on work that any numb-skull can do just boils my blood. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Could be worse, like many US auto makers, it could take them YEARS to retool for smaller cars.

I mean c'mon how could US auto makers not see that coming. "Hrm, rather than watching trends I'll scratch my ass till the last minute." :roll:
Click to expand...
Is this post about U.S. automakers? Stay on topic please.
Click to expand...

GO fuck yourself. Your entire post is incorrect, obviously you have never worked any kind of line job. When you get off your parents tit let me know.

:asshat;
Click to expand...
My, my, my. And to think I said please.

I said a few posts up that I was just posturing. I adopted the position of UAW bashers (like yourself), applied it to Toyota and you get all riled up. I apologize for that.

I worked blue-collar jobs for about 40 years. Many of those supporting line jobs. I understand the nature of the work very well.
Click to expand...

"understand the nature of the work" and "supporting" DOES NOT equal actually doing a line job. :roll: :moron;
 
Originally posted by: boomerang
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Either Boomerang is artfully concealing an agenda or, we're doing his homework for him.
Click to expand...
No, no homework. And I wouldn't classify it as artful.

An agenda? I suppose. I'm trying to point out some of the extreme bias I see here against domestic auto manufacturers. The auto business is in a downturn right now and a foreign manufacturer is doing the same thing the domestics do.

I know that no one will believe me when I say this, but I really don't get any enjoyment in pulling people's chains. That's why I'm fessing up and putting it to bed.

I didn't get the responses I thought I would. Kudos to ATOT today. Most of the arguments were of the common sense type. I think it's nice to see major corporations have a heart. Wherever their roots may lie.

Edit for spelling - as usual!
Click to expand...

Just stop. You're a stupid domestic fanboy with a crap argument.
 
Originally posted by: preslove
Originally posted by: boomerang
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Either Boomerang is artfully concealing an agenda or, we're doing his homework for him.
Click to expand...
No, no homework. And I wouldn't classify it as artful.

An agenda? I suppose. I'm trying to point out some of the extreme bias I see here against domestic auto manufacturers. The auto business is in a downturn right now and a foreign manufacturer is doing the same thing the domestics do.

I know that no one will believe me when I say this, but I really don't get any enjoyment in pulling people's chains. That's why I'm fessing up and putting it to bed.

I didn't get the responses I thought I would. Kudos to ATOT today. Most of the arguments were of the common sense type. I think it's nice to see major corporations have a heart. Wherever their roots may lie.

Edit for spelling - as usual!
Click to expand...

Just stop. You're a stupid domestic fanboy with a crap argument.
Click to expand...

are you kidding? If this was a story about a US automaker(who magically had extra capital laying around) doing the same thing, this thread would be on page 3 of why unions are destroying America.
 
Toyota is in the process of building a big new plant a few miles from my town. Makes me wonder why they need a new plant when they are laying off people.
 
Originally posted by: weadjust
Toyota is in the process of building a big new plant a few miles from my town. Makes me wonder why they need a new plant when they are laying off people.
Click to expand...


hush, they need to scoop up those tax incentives.
 
Originally posted by: weadjust
Toyota is in the process of building a big new plant a few miles from my town. Makes me wonder why they need a new plant when they are laying off people.
Click to expand...

Tupelo?

It was supposed to be an SUV plant. The lines are easy to move around though especially if it's greenfield.
 
Originally posted by: Turin39789
Originally posted by: preslove
Originally posted by: boomerang
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Either Boomerang is artfully concealing an agenda or, we're doing his homework for him.
Click to expand...
No, no homework. And I wouldn't classify it as artful.

An agenda? I suppose. I'm trying to point out some of the extreme bias I see here against domestic auto manufacturers. The auto business is in a downturn right now and a foreign manufacturer is doing the same thing the domestics do.

I know that no one will believe me when I say this, but I really don't get any enjoyment in pulling people's chains. That's why I'm fessing up and putting it to bed.

I didn't get the responses I thought I would. Kudos to ATOT today. Most of the arguments were of the common sense type. I think it's nice to see major corporations have a heart. Wherever their roots may lie.

Edit for spelling - as usual!
Click to expand...

Just stop. You're a stupid domestic fanboy with a crap argument.
Click to expand...

are you kidding? If this was a story about a US automaker(who magically had extra capital laying around) doing the same thing, this thread would be on page 3 of why unions are destroying America.
Click to expand...
Well the difference is, Toyota is doing this voluntarily to keep a tradition and retrench. Whereas, GM had its hands tied by contractual obligations with unions and could not fire unneeded staff it desperately needed to cut. Basically GM signed away its right to trim its workforce to align with demand and therefore could not rein in labor costs without negotiating new union contracts.
 
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