The Longest-Working Employees at Ford Have One Piece of Career Advice

At Ford’s Chicago plant, three longtime workers prove age hasn’t slowed their drive to keep working

BY MOSES JEANFRANCOIS, NEWS WRITER @MOSESJEANS

Illustration: Inc..; Photo: Getty Images

Despite being at retirement age, three workers at Ford Motor Company clock in every week. And they seem to have no plans of slowing down. 

In Chicago, Jim Lee, Richard Laumeyer, and Arthur Porter, tenured into their roles at Ford’s Chicago Stamping Plant. Porter, Ford’s longest employee, attributes his longevity to his ability to adapts and stay active. 

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“I don’t want to stay at home and stay in a bed,” Porter, 87, said in an interview with WGN9. “I’d rather be active. I’ve been active for all of these years, so I might as well stay active.” 

Ford, a top automaker, has roughly 160,000 employees worldwide. Despite the inclusion of automation into their work, the three Chicagoans have survived layoffs and are not looking to leave. 

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“It’s not a lot of hand work,” Porter said.  “It’s robots now.” The former veteran is Ford’s oldest employee, with 65 years at the plant. “My mother always told me, whatever you do, do it as you want to do it,” he said. 

The Chicago stamping plant opened its doors 1924. Today, 1,100 workers produce parts like doors and panels for new ford model cars such as the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Navigator. 

Lee, 73-year old grandfather of eight, has been working at the plant for 54 years. “Actually, out of the guys here right now. I’m the baby,” he jokes. 

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