Toyota seeking to reduce headcount on a voluntary basis

As the economy remains uncertain, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. wants to reduce headcount voluntarily as it recovers from the recall crisis last year. Toyota sent a letter to its sales and customer service employees in the U.S., stating that the company has to “continue to align [its] staffing and organizational structure to fit [its] future needs and growth.” Toyota also said that as it is “strictly a voluntary program,” there is no specified target number for the participants in the program. The managers in Toyota’s automotive operations group were offered the voluntary severance agreement.
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Steve - 2/4/2011 10:33:43 AM

0 Boost

Another way of saying this: Our company's infrastructure and staffing is consistent with an enterprise that has much higher sales than we do.

Sorry to hear that, Toyota. (no sarcasm intended)

On the positive side, experiences like this teach us humility, and the impermanence of all things. Today's "king of the hill" is tomorrow's "also ran," so it serves us to constantly look for ways to improve, to wow our existing customers, and to attract new ones. This is an opportunity for Toyota to reinvent itself, and to give consumers the impression that Toyota is working aggressively to *earn* your patronage, rather than resting on the laurels of historic accomplishments and expecting it.

Go Toyota!

uaw_lax - 2/4/2011 10:50:41 AM

-1 Boost

wtf?

uaw_lax - 2/4/2011 10:55:46 AM

+1 Boost

This is a very smart program that Toyota has been doing for years and years, it's a great way of reducing legacy cost by eliminating potential retires. When senior employees that have higher wages from a few years raises leave they can hire new blood at a cheaper rate.