News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Ficosa has returned to full operations. But faces a new problem; workers not returning after being furloughed.
Human Relations Manager Alicia Banner said the plant now faces a lack of employees.
“We had to furlough almost all of our hourly population. A few were working for critical operations,” Banner said. “We had to furlough about 60 percent of our indirect labor forces.”
Banner said furloughed employees are making more on unemployment than the hourly wages. Under the federal stimulus package, furloughed workers are eligible for an additional $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits.
“We are looking for all positions and shifts,” Banner said. “Right now, it is hardest to fill our second shift and evening shifts. Of course when we open that up, we fill our first shift positions first. We always have turnover and absentees that allow those to open up.”
Ficosa scaled back operations for nine weeks from March to May. Banner said the plant did not reach its sales goals during the shutdown. Only critical operations were running.
Banner said Ficosa communicated with workers on how returning to the plant would look. Ficosa is taking extreme measures to make sure employees are safe during this time.
“Our safety precautions are very in line to what the CDC recommends,” Banner said. “Including safety masks to protect our employees. We disinfect in the evenings and in between shifts and breaks. We also have gloves that are required throughout the facility.”
Ficosa is a multinational corporation, devoted to the research, development, production of systems and parts for the automotive industry.
