Saturday, October 15, 2011

Whirlpool "Streamlines"

Here are two articles on WP firings - don't miss the comments, although the first article's quotes from Whirlpool do enough damage to the corporation's credibility.

Whirlpool: Jobs Cuts "Difficult but Necessary"
Oct 11, 2011 By Tom Powell

Whirlpool announced Tuesday it is making "organizational changes." The changes include layoffs, but the company is not specifying how many people will lose their jobs.
A Whirlpool Spokesperson released the following statement to FOX 28 News:
"We communicated yesterday to employees regarding organizational changes in our North American Region. The changes are designed to create a more streamlined organization, allowing the company to operate more effectively, and to adapt more quickly, in current and forecasted market conditions. Most of Whirlpool Corporation's U.S. and Canadian locations were included; however we will not be providing additional details by location. Employees whose jobs were affected were notified yesterday.
Employee meetings were held this morning at various Whirlpool locations to discuss the changes and allow employees an open venue to ask questions of Whirlpool leaders.
This is a difficult, but necessary adjustment as we address a volatile marketplace in which demand for major appliances is currently at recessionary levels. Out of respect for the privacy of our employees we are not sharing specific numbers, however the job adjustments are spread across locations in the U.S. and Canada."
Whirlpool employs about 4,000 people in Benton Harbor, according to Cornerstone Alliance, an economic development group in the area.
"We are aware of the organizational effectiveness moves being made by Whirlpool Corporation and are concerned with some of the numbers being speculated within the community as to individuals impacted. We have heard rumors of job cuts in the realm of several hundred, which we know to be exaggerated," said Cornerstone Alliance President Wendy Dant Chesser in a statement to FOX 28 News. "However, we also realize that the loss of even just one job greatly affects not only that employee and their family, but also the broader community. This is why Cornerstone Alliance is working aggressively to court new businesses to our region and support many of the existing companies in our area that continue to thrive, despite the downturn in the economy."

Denise
Shame on Whirlpool. Are they getting rid of foreign employees as well? They should be taxed at about 90% to bring their products back into our country. How shortsighted-if I were the CEO the person who came up with this "organizational effectiveness" is fired. Let's use some imagination. Pretty soon the only employee left is the CEO-who will do the work then?

Nifty
PS.. I like the use of the term "organizational effectiveness moves". Nice....sorry, you are not effective in our organization anymore. Also, sweet touch on the "It gets better" release timing... reflective of the CYA / 'no responsibility" mentality ...

Nifty
All the best for those out of work now...and those left behind to do more work. It is a real pity that the incompetent WHR leaders aren't walked out the door.... where is the Board looking out for the shareholders' interests ? Nowhere. Millions of dollars to keep 4 jets, a new $40m building that isn't needed (particularly now), and time and again, failed strategies to increase profits (is it brand or product or channel strategy this year ?). So, what does one do when you can't improve profits when you have the market share leadership ? Fire employees.... it is a complete admission of failure in leadership and talent recruitment (I wonder if any HR leaders were let go this time...the ones charged with talent recruitment should obviously be the first to go, right ?). Maybe when they fire the next several hundred employees, the Board might start to wake up ...don't hold your breath.


http://www.fox28.com/story/15670025/whirlpool-says-jobs-cuts-are-difficult-but-necessary

Whirlpool cuts local jobs
Company won't say how many
“The changes are designed to create a more streamlined organization..."

by Mark Peterson
mpeterson@wndu.com

Whirlpool has eliminated jobs in the greater Benton Harbor / St. Joseph area, although it won’t say how many jobs.
Company Spokesperson Kristine Vernier said that Whirlpool isn’t sharing specific numbers out of respect for the privacy of the affected workers.
Whirlpool employs some 4,000 workers locally, but Vernier says that job cuts also took place beyond Berrien County--at Whirlpool facilities all across the United States and Canada.
“The changes are designed to create a more streamlined organization, allowing the company to operate more effectively, and to adapt more quickly, in current and forecasted market conditions,” Vernier said in a written statement.
The statement goes on to say that the marketplace is volatile and that “demand for major appliances is currently at recessionary levels.”
The employees whose jobs were affected were notified yesterday, according to the statement.
Under certain conditions an employer would be required to notify state and local government of a ‘large layoff,’ for instance, if plans called for 500 or more people to be let go in a 30-day period.
When asked if Whirlpool filed such notification, Vernier said that the layoff did not meet those criteria.
Late today, The Cornerstone Alliance issued a news release in which President Wendy Dant Chesser states, "We are aware of the organizational effectiveness moves being made by Whirlpool Corporation and are concerned with some of the numbers being speculated within the community as to individuals impacted. We have heard rumors of job cuts in the realm of several hundred, which we know to be exaggerated."

by wickileaks on Oct 14, 2011
this is only the first wave coming there will be more, possibly in about 2 weeks the next wave will happen, then possibly january more. All this while Jeff Fettig and his friends have a new corporate jet to fly around in, oh thats right they didnt mention that did they? where is the investigative reporting? next thing to go wil be the 401k match to the leftover employees while fettigs stock options increase, he'll still get his bonus, doubt average joe will get a bonus, or a raise next year.... mark my words

by Les on Oct 12, 2011 at 06:04 AM
I wonder how much just a 10-15% executive pay and bonus reduction would save the company? I doubt that was discussed as an option. Do you really need millions in your bonus on top of a million dollar salary Jeff Fettig? How much do your many executives deserve to stare out at the lake all day? Oh, we can't do that. We will lose our "top talent." Does it really take top talent to come up with a 'let's fire some people that make $35K/yr' plan. Brilliant. Show some real leadership and cost cut where the fat actually exists.

by Dianne on Oct 12, 2011
Hmmmmm. Wonder if the case reported below has something to do with the lay offs?? They were caught price gouging.... Mighty convenient lay offs would happen right now since they lost 140 Million. Embraco, a division of Michigan-based Whirlpool, and Panasonic Corp. pleaded guilty last year and together agreed to pay $140 million.

by Whoa There Pards... on Oct 11, 2011
2 months ago they were predicting the best year ever: "The company is reaffirming its annual operating EPS guidance(5) of $12.00 to $13.00 and free cash flow guidance in the range of $400 million to $500 million. Given the current operating environment, Whirlpool is guiding EPS to the low end of the range."

by Nifty Location: BH on Oct 11, 2011
All the best for those out of work now...and those left behind to do more work. It is a real pity that the incompetent WHR leaders aren't walked out the door.... where is the Board looking out for the shareholders' interests? Nowhere. Millions of dollars to keep 4 jets, a new $40m building that isn't needed (particularly now), and time and again, failed strategies to increase profits (is it brand or product or channel strategy this year ?). So, what does one do when you can't improve profits when you have the market share leadership ? Fire employees.... it is a complete admission of failure in leadership and talent recruitment (I wonder if any HR leaders were let go this time...the ones charged with talent recruitment should obviously be the first to go, right ?). Maybe when they fire the next several hundred employees, the Board might start to wake up ...don't hold your breath. PS.. I like the use of the term "organizational effectiveness moves". Nice....sorry, you are not effective in our organization anymore. Also, sweet touch on the "It gets better" release timing... reflective of the CYA / 'no responsibility" mentality ...

by Anonymous on Oct 11, 2011 at 08:07 PM
You can pretty much tell a layoff is coming when St.Joe puts up the We Love Whirlpool Sign on Broad street.

http://www.wndu.com/hometop/headlines/Whirlpool_cuts_local_jobs__131550748.html