VW has workers get fit before hitting factory floor

[Ed Barrow]

Volkswagen is requiring production workers hired for its new U.S. assembly plant to go through a fitness program on top of the usual job training, aiming to forge an "industrial athlete" who can lift, grip, bend and push without flagging.

VW formally opened its training academy at the $1 billion plant site Friday. But dozens of workers hired ahead of a projected production start early next year have already been building their bodies there before they start building cars.

Volkswagen Chattanooga spokesman Scott Wilson said the workouts are aimed at better product quality when the German automaker starts building a midsized sedan at the plant, which is expected to create about 2,000 jobs. He said time in the classroom, hands-on training and fitness training are all "focused on getting each and every one of us, no matter what our job is at the plant, prepared to show up and perform at the highest level of professional excellence."

Since April, fitness trainers have had new hires taking part in "on-the-clock" workouts that follow health testing and are individually tailored to their future production jobs that include the paint shop, body shop and assembly.


http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2010-06-04-vw-workout_N.htm?csp=15

[rurallib]

1. memo to workers: we own you 24 X 7

next they'll be selling them at an auction......

[JoeyT]

5. Not exactly.

I'd agree with you if they took the Whole Foods approach to fitness.
Having the employees work out during company time is actually a good thing, as long as they have realistic goals.
I'm much more concerned about companies that dictate what their employees do when they're not at work than ones that dictate they do something healthy while they're there. (and on the clock)

[enlightenment]

2. I wish my job would offer on-the-clock workouts . . .

I'd be much more likely to do them! (yes, I'm lazy. I procrastinate. And I've never EVER gotten that 'buzz' people talk about, so it's always boring and tedious and did I mention boring? But I do try. Being ordered to do it would make it easier . . .)

:evilgrin:

[eShirl]

3. no kidding! get paid to work out?

talk about a benefit

[jwirr]

4. If I remember correctly they have been doing that since the 1970s. nt

[Odin2005]

6. Creeping Corporate Serfdom!

:grr:

[mopinko]

7. really smart.

doesn't everyone here decry a corporate model that uses up workers and spits their fucked up bodies out when they are worn out? so this would be the opposite of that, no?