Ford CEO Jim Farley has taken a page out of his company’s founder Henry Ford’s playbook to address low wages and improve employee morale. In an interview with journalist Walter Isaacson at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Farley revealed that some young workers were taking on multiple jobs to make ends meet, including shifts at Amazon, due to inadequate wages.
Farley drew inspiration from Henry Ford’s decision in 1914 to double factory wages to $5 a day, which helped create a stable workforce and stimulate demand for his products. To replicate this success, Farley has made temporary workers eligible for higher wages, profit-sharing checks, and better healthcare coverage after two years of continuous employment.
The move is part of the company’s efforts to attract young trade workers and invest in their development through trade schools and skilled trades. However, Ford faces criticism from unions and workers who argue that wages remain too low, and the company has been slow to address concerns.
Farley acknowledges the need for change but argues that more needs to be done beyond what his company can achieve on its own. “We’re not just going to hope it gets better,” he said. “We have the resources and know-how to solve these problems, but we need more help from others.”
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/06/30/ford-ceo-jim-farley-henry-ford-playbook-union-wages