In the two years that Ford salaried employees have been working remotely, the company has been re-thinking the future of work. When Ford officially reopens its offices on April 4, 2022, things will be very different. WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert was the first reporter to get a tour of one of those new offices, at Ford's Advanced Engineering Center in Dearborn
(WWJ) These are not the workspaces that Ford salaried employees left in March of 2020. The cubicle farms are gone, replaced with collaboration areas, temporary desks, pop-in privacy rooms and smart bathrooms.
"This is all new for all of us," says Rebecca Tsallis, who works for Ford Land Planning and Strategy, and was my tour guide for a totally redone workspace.
Salaried workers at Ford -- and elsewhere -- have become quite flexible.
"I definitely wouldn't have expected two years later to still be working out of my bedroom corner," said Jacklyn Watt, a purchasing manager.
She coached an entire team remotely and is now coaching them on what to expect when they enter a new phase when they work from home some days and come in when they need to.
"What we've been doing over the past year or so is getting them excited about what opportunities will be coming with hybrid," she said. "So, they can see what their options might be. Those that did want to come in could get happy with it, and know there's a light at the end of the tunnel Those what were at home and really comfortable at that also knew that that was OK, and there's a good solution for that, too."
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The pandemic hit as Ford was updating its Dearborn campus, so those plans were changed for a new style of working that Ford calls "Evolution of Work."
It is a totally different environment, built from the assumption that people are no longer coming in to the same space every day, and only coming in when there's a need.
There are desks... lots of desks. Some with huge computer screens. Some with two computer screens. Some are bare, so you bring your own laptop.
"The goal is a new shared environment that supports collaboration," said Tsallis.
That's why there are lots of collaborative areas from meeting rooms, to open areas, to a special room where engineers can store the parts they are working on, take them out, and examine them or work on them with somebody else.
But not all work is collaborative.
"There is going to be a need for personal work as well," brought home as Tsallis shows me small rooms where somebody can jump in to take a private call, or get some peace and quiet. There was even one room with windows that completely frost over the touch of a button.
"You need a little extra privacy, or even have a prototype vehicle up on display."
Technology extends to lockers which open with the touch of an employees badge, and even the bathroom. You can see on a screen is there's an open stall, and supplies are monitored to help make sure you don't run out of something important.
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Meals are going to be very different, too.
"We'll have a lot more healthy options for employees to choose from," says Jenny Torony, Ford's North America Human Resources Manager.
Automated food areas are open around the clock, and workers will have more ability to tailor their food choices.
"That service will allow employees to not only customize the food they are getting, but they can see all the nutrition and calories associated with those meals."
While there were fresh fruits, soups and salads on display in the food area, I also did see several shelves full of chips, cookies and candy.
Torony said there are no expectations when it comes to how many days a salaried employee will be in the office, and how many they will be at home. It will vary based on the needs of the company and the needs of the individual.
"It's about how we're reimagining work and a flexible employee experience to deliver our Ford Plus plan."
And it will be an evolving workplace. They will find out what works, and what doesn't, and adapt.
"We want to hear what the people who are using the space have to say," Tsallis said. We're committed to modifying the space and changing it, so that not only does it work today, but it continues to evolve as the work we do continues to evolve."
For Jackie Watt, it's not just about getting her team ready, it's about getting herself ready to head into a workplace again, after two years of living in sweatpants.
"I'm really excited to get out of them. I have to make sure my normal pants fit, but I'm really excited for the change."
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