Ford is hiring temporary workers in anticipation of coronavirus concern-related absences.
A company spokesperson gave 7 Action News this statement:
“Due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, we are hiring additional temporary workers in our plants to cover what we expect will be an increase in absenteeism.”
Ford also announced Saturday it signed contracts with health systems in four metro areas with major company facilities to quickly test hourly and salaried employees with suspected symptoms of COVID-19.
In Southeast Michigan, where Ford employs about 46,000 people, employees who exhibit symptoms associated with COVID-19 will receive a prescription for testing from Ford’s onsite doctors. This prescription allows employees to receive testing through Beaumont Health.
The goal is to have results available within 24 hours, according to Ford.
Testing results will be simultaneously shared with Ford doctors in order to quickly identify others who were in close contact with infected employees and immediately have them self-quarantine for 14 days.
The Big 3 automakers are gearing up to reopen on Monday, May 18, with tens of thousands of metro Detroit auto employees phasing back into work.
According to General Motors, only first shift employees will be working, and some people who are currently on lay-off will get called back into the plant. Right, now the startup date for second and third shift production has not been determined.
The safety of our employees is highest priority as we restart our operations. We will be monitoring our manufacturing staffing needs as we move forward. To date, we’ve had no positive in plant cases of COVID-19 at our operations that have been working through the pandemic like in Kokomo, where we are building ventilators and Warren where we are building masks and at our part distribution centers who’ve been shipping parts to dealers.
FCA says it "will be monitoring its staffing needs as operations restart next week."</p><p>
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
Find out how you can help businesses and restaurants struggling during the pandemic.
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Join the Rebound Mid Michigan Facebook Group.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
