DEARBORN, Mich. (AFX) - Ford Motor Co. has asked many of its salaried employees for input about what kinds of benefits they value most as the nation's second-largest automaker considers more cost-cutting efforts.
A copy of an online survey used by Ford was obtained by The Detroit News, which published details of it in Saturday's editions.
Earlier this month, Ford pledged to speed up and possibly deepen its six-month-old North American turnaround plan. Analysts have said that could mean further job cuts and plant closings as those changes take shape.
Ford dashed Wall Street's hopes for a profitable second quarter July 20, blaming its dependence on high-margin SUVs for a $123 million loss as consumers shifted toward gas-sipping cars. The company sought to appease its critics by pledging to speed up its 'Way Forward' plan but didn't say how.
Dearborn-based Ford has said it plans to announce new turnaround measures later this year.
The survey, which takes 15 to 30 minutes to complete, asks workers a series of either-or questions designed to find out which benefits and working conditions they value most, the newspaper said.
'Management does not want to make decisions in a vacuum,' Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said. 'The company wanted there to be employee involvement.'
Types of questions include whether workers prefer a pension plan or retiree health care, whether they would select dental or disability insurance if they had to choose and whether a higher base salary or performance bonus is better, the newspaper said.
Evans said all of the benefits listed on the survey are ones currently available to Ford's salaried workers.
Ford already has cut some benefits traditionally enjoyed by salaried workers. In December, for example, Ford told white-collar workers that they would have to pay more for health benefits as part of its restructuring.
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