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Creating a Winning Culture
Our culture – what it’s like to work at Ford – is built on the strength of our history and transformed by our passion and ambition to create tomorrow, together.
By Putting People First, one of our shared values, we believe in creating experiences that empower our employees, customers, partners and communities to make the world a better place. We embrace a culture that enables us to attract, retain and develop top talent.
Our People Strategy
Through our holistic approach, we will:
Our Aspirational Goal
We aspire to become the most inclusive and diverse global company.
Valuing Diversity at Every Level
We can make our business stronger by fully leveraging the diversity of our workforce to reflect the communities in which we operate. We invite our people to bring all of their passion, inspiration, integrity and uniqueness into work each day. Society and corporations can no longer stay silent to social injustice. We fully commit to creating the fair, just and inclusive culture that all team members deserve.
In July 2019, our World Headquarters hosted the Check Your Blind Spots Tour, in support of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ (CEO Action) pledge. This event raised awareness of unconscious bias and offered a unique, technology-enabled multimedia experience, centered on uncovering “blind spots” that influence everyday decision making. In partnership with the CEO Action pledge, Ford employees celebrated the Day of Understanding in March 2020, to advance inclusion across Ford.
We have a network of 11 Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for those who share characteristics or life experiences, as well as a desire to develop professionally and advance business goals. Groups for different ethnicities, women, the LGBTQ+ community, employees of faith, disabled employees, employees new in tenure and veterans host a range of professional, educational and cultural events as well as supporting our diversity-related efforts in recruitment and community outreach. For example, in March 2020, our Women of Ford ERG hosted its seventh annual International Women’s Day event.
We are committed to supporting minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses that foster innovation, drive profitability and prioritize sustainability. Our nationally recognized Supplier Diversity and Inclusion (SDI) program facilitates productive partnerships with a diverse range of entrepreneurs and drives innovative best practices to develop services for our customers. The program now includes certifications from the National LGBT Chambers of Commerce, Disability:IN, the Small Business Administration and WEConnect International.
To learn more about our diversity and inclusion initiatives, download a copy of our Sustainability Report from the ESG Reporting Hub.
UN Women’s Empowerment Principles
In February 2020, our President and CEO Jim Hackett signed the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles on behalf of Ford Motor Company. In doing so, we have committed to a set of principles to empower women around the world in the workplace, marketplace and communities.
Committed to Workplace Equality
Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI): For the second year in a row, Ford was included in the 2020 GEI in recognition of its commitment to transparent gender reporting and workplace equality. And to support our aspiration to become the world's most trusted company, we published our GEI survey responses (PDF, 2.7 MB) along with our Sustainability Report.
2019 Disability Equality Index® (DEI): For the first time, Ford received a perfect score of 100 on the DEI Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion list, a leading disability inclusion assessment tool. Our score demonstrates that we follow many aspects of disability inclusion best practices.
Ford has received further recognition from:
Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community
We support Fair and Equal Michigan’s efforts to initiate legislation amending the state’s civil rights law – the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act – to support the LGBTQ+ community and protect all residents against discrimination.
Creative Ways to Promote Diversity
Ford’s commitment to cultural diversity shines through in this year’s advertising campaign for the all-new 2020 Escape. The campaign, Built Phenomenally, showcases remarkable women in the entertainment industry as well as at Ford. It also spotlights our commitment to the Free the Work initiative we co-founded, which encourages companies to be more inclusive in the bidding process for creative talent.
Diversity and inclusion is not a program or an initiative. It’s about people. There’s one basic human need common to every single person on the planet: that’s the need to belong. We can’t be the world’s most trusted company unless everyone supporting Ford can be themselves and do their best work.”
Lori Costew Chief Diversity Officer
Building an Adaptive Workforce
The corporate landscape is dynamic, so companies increasingly need fresh thinking to keep up with a rapidly evolving world. At the same time, candidates are increasingly looking to work for companies that match their values.
We’re continuously developing our learning culture and systems to ensure we acquire the new skills that technological advances demand. We’re using new technologies to enhance our manufacturing capabilities in our Factories of Tomorrow, expanding our partnerships to secure a pipeline of new talent and enhancing our learning experiences to prepare future-ready leaders.
We are creating global centers of excellence where talent can thrive. These will be inviting places for employees, partners, businesses and entrepreneurs to work with us to create tomorrow, together.”
Dave Dubensky Chairman and CEO, Ford Land Development
Campus Transformation
We’re transforming our Research and Engineering Center in Dearborn, Michigan, into a high-tech campus for thousands of designers and engineers. The site of interconnected buildings and flexible workspaces – based on the principles of integration, interaction and co-location – will serve as a catalyst for new ideas and a proving ground for new mobility solutions.
The COVID-19 outbreak has forced us to remain flexible in where and how work is done, providing the necessary tools and technology for teams to collaborate virtually, while providing energizing workspaces when teams meet face to face. With around 1,000 virtual workers normally, we were able to ramp that up to 115,000 within one week.
I come to work every day excited to collaborate and innovate with my amazing team. Ford provides the tools, the space and the freedom to do just that. We are changing the way we work by providing more flexibility and encouraging each other to do our best.”
Laura Castro Chief Financial Officer, Ford of Mexico
Respecting Human Rights
We rely on thousands of Ford workers and many more in our supply chain. Everything we produce – or that others make for us – needs to comply with local laws as well as our own commitment to protecting human rights everywhere we operate, both throughout our company and our entire supply chain.
We have signed the UN Global Compact, a framework of 10 universally accepted principles covering human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, and incorporate these principles into our policies and procedures, such as our Policy Letter 24: Code of Human Rights, Basic Working Conditions and Corporate Responsibility (referred to as Policy Letter 24).
Our Aspirational Goal
We aspire to responsibly source all raw materials used within our vehicles globally.
Driving Human Progress
Customers in today’s increasingly connected world expect better, with products that drive human progress. That’s why we’re focused on how consumers, communities and cities define how a company can impact human progress.
For the customer to be at the center of all we do, we’re empowering decisions to be made at the lowest level, streamlining systems and processes, and developing our team for the skills needed today and in the future. It is imperative that we have an inclusive culture where all voices are heard, and everyone supporting Ford feels that they belong.
Defining Human Progress
As part of our focus on how Ford can make a positive impact, we conducted a two-year study with the Erb Institute at the University of Michigan, to define human progress. We’re using our findings – which spanned enhancing economic prosperity, increasing access to transportation, preserving human rights, and protecting health and safety – to drive impacts to our consumers through our vehicles and services.
Innovation
- Preserve human rights
- Protect human health, safety and well-being
- Increase access to transportation
- Enhance societal economic prosperity
I am fortunate to work for a company whose strategic safety measures reflect the health and well-being of both its employees and their families. This allows me to work more effectively and reminds me that when I return home to my family, I can keep them healthy and safe.
Kevin Brewer Mill operator, Troy Design and Manufacturing (UAW representative)
7 years
Without a safety incident at our Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant in Mexico
Health and Safety
As a salient human rights issue and a key strategic priority at Ford, nothing is more important than the health, safety and well-being of our people. We work hard to achieve world-class levels of safety year-over-year, through the application of policies and best practices.
We maintain a robust safety culture to reduce workplace injuries, supported by effective communication, reporting and external benchmarking. We hold regular talks and events on key safety issues, and participate in multi-industry groups to share safety best practices.
In 2019, the many initiatives and promotions we undertook to promote workplace health and safety included:
- Come Home Safe campaign in Turkey, where employees’ children recorded messages wearing personal protective equipment and created artwork to remind their parents of the importance of safety
- Drills for National Safety Month in China, to raise employees’ safety awareness, reduce unsafe behavior and enhance our strong safety culture
- A partnership with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) in Detroit to protect workers restoring the Michigan Central Station building
Respecting Human Rights Within Ford
Our commitment to addressing our salient human rights issues starts with our employees, and extends to our suppliers and business partners. We strive to maintain a safe and healthy work environment; do not tolerate harassment and discrimination; safeguard against the threat of forced labor, child labor and human trafficking; and follow ethical recruitment practices.
Our values and behaviors, which include Doing the Right Thing and Putting People First, mean that we act with integrity and transparency, and create safe, inclusive workplaces so that everyone can perform at their best.
Every business must put people first and strive to become truly responsible, regenerative and resilient. That’s why we’re using our latest human rights saliency assessment to help us prioritize where to direct our resources, and develop action plans to monitor, address and increase engagement on these issues.”
Mary Wroten Director, Global Sustainability, Sustainability, Environment & Safety Engineering
Our Salient Human Rights Issues
In 2020, we conducted our second human rights saliency assessment, in line with the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework (UNGPRF), to review the issues with the greatest risk of negative impacts on human rights. Over the last year, we’ve started to roll out a series of action plans to prevent, manage and remediate the 10 issues we identified:
Most salient human rights issues for Ford in alphabetical order
Access to water and sanitation
SDGs: 6, 12
Air quality
SDGs: 3, 11, 12
Child labor
SDGs: 8
Climate change
SDGs: 9, 12, 13
Data privacy and protection
SDGs: 9
Forced Labor and ethical recruitment
SDGs: 8
Harassment and discrimination
SDGs: 5, 10
Health, safety and security
SDGs: 3, 8
Human trafficking
SDGs: 5, 8
Product safety and quality
SDGs: 3
Responsible and Conflict-Free Sourcing
With our complex supply chain, sourcing the hundreds of different materials we use in a typical vehicle is an important human rights issue. For example, the rise of electric vehicles brings new challenges when sourcing minerals such as cobalt for battery production, as well as mica, rubber and rare earth elements.
We never knowingly procure materials that contribute to child and forced labor, bribery and corruption, conflict or environmental concerns. We commit to comply with local laws, report customer terms and conditions, and respect indigenous populations’ rights to water and land.
To address these issues, we participate in studies, workgroups and discussions to increase transparency in ethical raw material sourcing, and require suppliers to verify that the materials they supplied to us were sourced responsibly.
Sourcing the raw materials needed for battery technology presents some complex challenges. We work tirelessly to address the ethical, environmental, human and labor rights issues throughout the supply chain, and strive to make the whole process as transparent as possible.”
Emma King Global Suspension and North America Lead Chassis Director, Purchasing
1,200
Tier 1 production suppliers
100%
Response rate from in-scope suppliers for conflict minerals reporting
Earning Trust Through Safety and Quality
Ford cares about customer safety. That’s why the safety and quality of our vehicles will always be our highest priority.
We have systems in place to help ensure that our vehicles meet or exceed performance and quality standards, as well as customer expectations, throughout their design, development and manufacture.
Vehicle Quality and Safety
Having set the benchmark with factory-installed safety belts six decades ago, we continue to develop new, innovative technologies that enhance vehicle safety and help customers feel safe and confident on the road. Ford and Lincoln Co-Pilot360™ technologies, available around the world, use a combination of radar, sonar and cameras to sense and interpret the environment.
We continue to receive high marks and accolades in public and private crash-testing assessments. For the 2019 model year, 10 Ford and three Lincoln nameplates received 5-Star Overall Vehicle Scores in the U.S. New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), and five models earned 5-star ratings by Euro NCAP in 2019.
Driver Assist Technology
Ford and Lincoln Co-Pilot360™ technologies help customers drive safely and confidently, alerting them to potential collisions and making routine tasks easier. These features, available around the world, use a combination of radar, sonar and cameras to sense and interpret the environment.
In the United States, the base Co-Pilot360™ package is now available on at least 15 of our 2020 model year vehicles, and our 2021 model year Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 will be the first vehicles to come with the Ford Co-Pilot360™ 2.0 package. This includes additional features such as Reverse Sensing System, Reverse Brake Assist and Post-Collision Braking.
Working in a company that is so committed to the safety of its customers, as well as the environmental sustainability of its operations and products, fosters a spirit of true innovation. Constantly searching for new solutions has become an everyday passion.”
Adrian Diaz Associate Director, Automotive Safety Office
We build our vehicles and develop our services to drive human progress and protect our customers, while delivering the quality, safety, reliability and driving experience they expect.”
Kimberly Harris Global Quality Business Manager
Product Quality
We use warranty repairs per thousand vehicles at three months in service as a key metric for measuring initial quality. Initial quality goes beyond warrantable defects, to include measures of customer excitement with new product features.
We also subscribe to three annual studies by J.D. Power and Associates. Our scores in the Vehicle Dependability Study and APEAL Study continue to improve: in 2019, Ford and Lincoln both made the top five in the Initial Quality Study for the first time.
Supporting Community Life
Ford has always been much more than just an employer – we’re also a neighbor. By creating long-lasting partnerships and increasing access to opportunities, we’re working to strengthen our local communities and help make people’s lives better for generations to come.
We support initiatives across three key areas: community projects focused on improving quality of life; education, skills development and training; and driver safety.
Making Lives Better
Ford Fund works with local and global partners on programs and services that make people’s lives better. From feeding the hungry and mentoring social entrepreneurs in supporting multicultural initiatives and rebuilding after a natural disaster, we connect at a grassroots level to strengthen communities and help people in need. You can learn more about Ford Motor Company Fund highlights (PDF, 2 MB).
Volunteering has always been an integral part of Ford’s commitment to making a positive impact on society. Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, we provide opportunities for employees to support the communities where they live and work, through projects to feed the hungry, provide clean water, build homes, renovate schools, mentor young people and protect the environment.
Employee Response to COVID-19
Ford Fund has offered employees the chance to support efforts to address the COVID-19 outbreak through two initiatives. They can lend a hand through the COVID-19 Donation Match Program, which will match $500,000 in donations to organizations fighting against COVID-19.
In addition, the Read and Record project will create an online library of Ford employees reading children’s books for the 1.3 billion young people affected by schools closing around the world.
This is an opportunity for professional and personal growth. I have always been involved with volunteer work, and it is great to work at a company where a life goal of helping others is fulfilled through company initiatives.”
Emanuela Carvalho da Silva Analyst, Ford Human Resources, Brazil
1.4 million hours
Service by Ford volunteers in six continents since 2005
More than $2 billion
Invested to strengthen communities around the world to date
Bill Ford Better World Challenge
The Bill Ford Better World Challenge is a global grant program that supports employee-led efforts to address issues in their local communities. Jointly funded by Executive Chairman Bill Ford and Ford Fund, the program has awarded $1.5 million to projects in India, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand and the United States since 2015. In our most recent projects:
- Ford employees in Orlando, Florida, developed Food for Life, an urban agriculture program that makes nutritious food more accessible by converting underutilized land into micro-farms and teaching the students at two underserved high schools how to grow their own food
- The Watergen program in drought-stricken South Africa uses special equipment hitched to a Ford Ranger to capture moisture from the air. Between August 2019 and March 2020, it provided clean and safe drinking water for 2,700 community members in the Eastern Cape
Supporting Social Enterprises
We launched our inaugural SHE-MOVES (Strengthen Her: Mobilizing Ventures for Social Innovation) grants program in May 2019, supporting community projects that benefit women and children in India, South Africa and Nigeria.
The projects funded by SHE-MOVES all have women at the heart of social enterprises, either as leaders or beneficiaries. They include projects training women in India to operate and maintain vehicles; providing onboard learning experiences for women using commuter shuttles in Lagos, Nigeria; and providing community support and education to people with disabilities and their female caregivers in South Africa.
Before establishing my own startup, I didn’t have time for personal and career development and had to take leave to attend training. That’s why I’m very excited about joining the shuttles to mentor young women.”
Nkem Okocha Mentor, Shuttlers
I was part of the SHE-MOVES project when working as an intern. The experience helped me improve my digital literacy skills and will hopefully enable me to start my own business.”
Emeagwai Marion Nwamaka Mentee, Shuttlers
Investing in Detroit’s Revival
Since our company was founded in Detroit in 1903, we have been investing in and around our hometown.
In addition to turning the long-abandoned Central Michigan Station into a new innovation hub, we’re investing $10 million over the next four years to support local programs focused on housing affordability, workforce development, mobility solutions, parks preservation, neighborhood safety and preserving Corktown’s culture. As part of this agreement, we awarded $250,000 in grants to four nonprofit organizations to fund programs that celebrate the area’s history and culture.
Building a Better World
Ford Resource and Engagement Centers (FRECs) are a Ford Fund innovation that brings nonprofit partners together in a collaborative environment. Each center reflects the community it serves, assisting with food and shelter, training and education, and arts and cultural initiatives.
The original FREC in Southwest Detroit has assisted more than 100,000 local residents by distributing food and helping them complete their tax returns. In total, the facility has returned $3 in services to the local community for every $1 invested. We have since opened FRECs on the east side of Detroit, as well as in South Africa, Romania and Thailand.
$175 million+
Ford Fund investment in local education, arts, cultural, diversity, hunger relief and social service organizations throughout southeast Michigan
$740 million
Invested in renovation of Detroit’s Michigan Central Station
Education and Training
We support education and training by advancing essential skills development and job training, and presenting opportunities for young people to study science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) subjects. And through Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL), we promote safe driving, providing teens and newly licensed drivers with training beyond what they learn in standard driver education programs.
Promoting Safe Driving
Ford DSFL is a global initiative that teaches teens and other newly licensed drivers how to stay safe behind the wheel. Through free safe-driving clinics and instruction via its online training “Academy,” newly licensed drivers are paired with professional driving instructors to learn about vehicle handling, hazard recognition, speed, space management, distraction and impairment. Ford DSFL training is adapted to reflect cultural nuances, unique driving conditions, and local laws and infrastructure in each country.
Ford DSFL in Numbers
40,000+ participants in 31 countries in 2019
$60 million+ invested to date
More than 1.25 million drivers trained in 50 U.S. states and 46 countries since 2003
Building a Strong Talent Pipeline
We encourage young people to consider a motor industry career by studying STEAM subjects. Investing in programs such as Primary Engineer, FIRST® Robotics and Girls Who Code helps fill the gap between tomorrow’s needs and the skills of today’s workforce.
Sustainable Development Goals
Through our work in putting people first, we are contributing to the following UN SDGs:
