#fear

The moment BNY announces it has “partnered with McKinsey for strategic realignment,” associates react with the same serenity NASA astronauts display when Mission Control calmly radios, “We’re detecting an unexpected structural anomaly. Please remain calm.” A hush ripples through the workforce. Teams icons flip to “Busy,” résumés begin auto launch sequences, and everyone suddenly remembers they have “a friend at JPMC” they should probably ping before atmospheric reentry.

Associates know the pattern. McKinsey doesn’t arrive to optimize joy; they arrive to optimize payload weight — by jettisoning crew.

Soon the PowerPoint Telemetry Flood begins: hundreds of slides filled with arrows, thrust vectors, and phrases like “strategic delayering,” “value capture acceleration,” and “synergy unlocks.” Employees translate these instantly: “layoffs,” “more layoffs,” and “brace for impact.”

Then the consultants appear — bright eyed, hyper confident, and unmistakably born during the iPhone 6 era. They interview associates about the very systems those associates built, taking notes with the intensity of NASA scientists documenting steps to repair a faulty toilet and drain my catheter. Employees smile politely while thinking, “This is how my mission ends — explained back to me by someone who still uses their college meal plan.”

Meanwhile, deep in the executive command module, RV and Dermie quietly cheer as the fear and panic meter spikes and the algorithm for layoffs without severance boots up, humming like a guidance computer that only calculates cost savings.

The BNY EC soon begins speaking fluent McKinsey-ese:

• “Zero based redesign” (cut everything)
• “Workforce rationalization” (cut everyone)
• “Operating model uplift” (cut differently)

Morale drops like a surprise space toilet malfunction in microgravity. Motivation shifts from “doing great work” to “avoiding being noticed,” “avoiding being too unnoticed,” and “finding a new mission before this capsule depressurizes.”

Right on cue, HR issues its standard transmission: all employees must refrain from unprofessional or derogatory comments — including emojis. Violations may result in corrective action up to and including termination. A sarcastic po-p or head ba----g wall emojis could apparently end your career faster than a failed docking maneuver.

By the time the consultants return to Earth, the BNY EC will declare mission success, and associates will quietly wonder whether the strategy ever involved improvement — or simply surviving another orbit on the dark side of the corporate moon.

Got this on good authority. I've been under the 4 days a week RTO since they went to it. 3 days was all I was willing to do.

Have a friend in an high place that warned me of a layoff on Monday for anyone that hasn't complied. I need my job.

The senior leadership in the U.S., particularly the VPs, routinely take credit for the work done by their Indian directors and senior directors. These VPs claim full ownership of projects that their Indian counterparts have actually planned and executed, with no acknowledgment of their efforts.
The VPs have no real understanding of how to effectively execute projects with resources in India and are completely dependent on their Indian directors and senior directors. Despite this reliance, they fail to give the credit where it's due, continuously taking the limelight for work they didn't do. The Indian leaders, who have built strong relationships with their counterparts and teams in India, know how to get the job done efficiently. The VPs, on the other hand, lack the necessary expertise and often sit back while others handle the real work.
Adding insult to injury, the VPs undermine their own directors and senior directors by pretending to be supportive of the India teams. They put on a show, claiming to protect these teams from exploitation, like avoiding late-night meetings, but in reality, they are the ones fostering a toxic environment where credit is stolen, and recognition is denied.
The directors and senior managers are too afraid to speak up, fearing retaliation or career damage. As a result, the VPs continue to bask in the glory of others' hard work, while the real contributors remain unnoticed and unappreciated.
This toxic culture of credit theft and the undermining of competent leadership is a long-standing issue that severely damages morale and fosters an environment of fear. If you’re considering a position here, be aware that your hard work will likely be stolen by those higher up the chain with no recognition for you.
Bottom Line: Look elsewhere if you want a workplace where your contributions are valued and credited, and where real leadership is respected.

Nielsen has always run on fear. Intimidation is standard. And the PIP is their favorite tool. You have to leave your dignity at the door to work here.

I do my best for T and been raising my family. In 2018 I got the hint that all things may move to Dallas as they started to let go off people in CA and did a force move to Austin. However, I didn’t. Every day, I wake up with no certainty, not owning anything, living with frustration and fear on what T might do next, as I watch talent go out the door. I feel like a failure in life unable to risk anything to achieve stability. Yes I get a paycheck paying bills but no happiness

All sr managers in my org got let go this week, and I bet we are next. Anyone else get told to work form home next week?

"A payment in the amount of four weeks of base salary for your first year of employment plus one week’s salary for each additional year of employment, based on your most recent hire date, up to a combined maximum of 26 weeks of base salary."

I have just under 15 years of service to the company with numerous awards and promotions for good performance. Like many here, I have poured blood sweat and tears into my job going above and beyond for this company.

All those efforts are now in the dustbin and I am being shown the door with just 18 weeks of pay (which will be fully subject to tax).

As an older person with specialist skills, I am not easily going to find another similar role, if at all. The future seems very dark and uncertain and I am fearful

It's not as if it will ever pay off. The only thing one can hope for is to be worked to the point of exhaustion, ditched and replaced. Working hard once made sense. Putting in some extra effort opened doors and created opportunities. It's pure masochism these days. What is it? Fear, habit, delusions that it might help you keep the job?

Peak combo of constant crises and steady decline, with the daily expectation of joblessness.

I would otherwise be out without a second thought. I don't know what your experience is, but there are barely any jobs out there. I reached my peak burnout just as there are no options left. Well, I'll just tread water here until better times, trying not to go nuts from having to show up here every day.

It’s bad all the time. I mean if there is anything in particular not to look forward to?

Working in complete fear is fun. Get rid of ELTs for Real Change

Welcome BNYs new Agentic Platform! Here you get to help create your very own AI employee that will eventually take your job!

This place is a joke.

I just read an article that said many people are forgoing PTO due to fear of layoffs, and I realized I'm one of them. They really conditioned us like dogs, didn't they?

Can we have at least a week where we don't have to worry about cuts? Just a single one?

How are you mentally preparing for it ?

The talks of tough guys on this post board… what is going on at ONHD. What is we in for next 3 month??

Isn’t it strange that AI is being pushed down our throats and the more we use it the better it’s able to get? Just seems like we are contributing to our own downfall here as a human race. I feel like it’s a natural instinct to opt out of something like this.

You used to be able to stand up to your boss at Ford and know it wouldn't cost you your job. Not anymore. I drafted a long reply to my boss on Friday. Pointed out why his decision was flawed. Sat there for ten minutes. Then deleted it. These days, staying quiet is safer. Hate that I have to do that.

A few years ago I witnessed the best guy on our team fired in a thirty second phone call and I haven't forgotten since that day that nothing here is safe.

Dearest gentle reader, it has come to this author’s attention that all is not glittering in the oil patch, particularly within the cold, steely walls of Chevron.

While the company boasts of record-setting efficiency, measured by colorful scorecards that are all the rage this season, the loyal workers—those remaining, at least—are being squeezed until they are positively breathless, expected to drive performance while looking over their shoulders.

'Tis whispered that the infamous leader, the Cryptkeeper himself, MW, cares not a wh-t for the human cost of his grand ambitions, treating seasoned staff as mere overhead to be deleted, rather than the lifeblood of the enterprise, as he searches for his next low-cost geography “Diamond” of the season and incessantly prods his subjects to most expeditiously dispatch labor abroad.

With thousands of souls reportedly cast out in a relentless drive to slash costs, one wonders if the "Human Energy" touted in this company’s advertisements refers to the energy it takes to flee the sinking ship, or perhaps, the sheer audacity of laying off much more than the reported 20% of the workforce, while demanding more with less.

The atmosphere, by all accounts, is less "energy giant" and more "relentless harvester," leaving one to wonder who, if anyone, will be left to turn out the lights in Houston.

Fear not, gentle reader, for there is much more merriment to share. The ton demands it, and we shall oblige. I leave you with this juicy riddle: who is the Diamond that shines so bright—albeit unnaturally—that he lights up the dark halls of the Houston dungeon and is—dare we say this—in an entanglement? One hint: Chicklets

Anytime someone offers advice on an exit strategy, its followed by trolling of “Thank you Mr. recruiter” or “thank you LinkedIn headhunter” . I think that most people at Citi enjoy the warmth blanket of group misery. Its easier to swallow and cope with and easier to sell to yourself if you can convince yourself and others that “there’s no use to even try”.

Don’t dare succeed at leaving Citi, that means that it IS possible and I have no excuse for not trying.

Just tons of Citi-philes out there that just can’t stand to hear about someone leaving and being better off. The selling of the lie that you’ll never make more money elsewhere is so predominant on this site speaks volumes to the fear factor some live under.

Be free or be a sheeple.

Based on everything I'm hearing, reading, and even in Google's AI certification programs, we are at least decades away from this, and some suspect it's not even possible to have a machine that solve problems, learn like a child, build on experience, plan for the future, and be an expert in all things.

I guess my newest concern is that if Dan actually believes it's possible and he's getting rid of humans to replace with robots, what is going to happen this company?! Or will he get specialized robots that complete single tasks, which doesn't seem ultra beneficial for much of what we do.

I just feel more confused by his declarations

Is it a good idea to speak on LinkedIn about what employees are going through inside a company while still working there?

I’m currently at Wells Fargo and honestly I hate the way some of us are being treated. I checked job openings on Workday and many of the roles seem to be in India while employees here are worried about their jobs.

Just wondering what others think is it right to speak up about this while still employed?

Since the weekend, it's been all anyone in my office can talk about. And who can blame us? We're way past loving or hating our jobs. We're straight scared for our livelihoods. I can't be the only one lying awake thinking about the mortgage, the kids, the bills that always seem to appear out of nowhere. And yeah, I've been looking for other work. And no, it hasn't helped. Just made me more anxious.

I'm fed up of management through fear. You can scare people into doing two or three jobs for the price of one for a while, but not forever. Eventually we just stop giving a damn and go back to doing just our original job. I 'm at the point where I don't give a damn if they fire me or not. I'm just done.

Heads up: My manager said upper management is actively pushing to fire people to save costs and told us to “get ready for the worst.” I’ve been here 5 years, and while last year I didn’t meet some performance metrics, I have documentation showing the assessment isn’t fully accurate. My manager even admitted the pressure is coming from above.

Is anyone else seeing the same thing? Thought we should share experiences and be prepared.

I got an offer, but I'm a bit scared to leave my current job even for better money because, what happens if layoffs start and I'm one of the newest hires? I'm just wondering how often do layoffs happen and if I'm among the last to have joined, how much danger would I be in?

Oxy cuts when oil prices are down, when they are up, when results are bad, and even when they are good. Basically, it can happen at any time. It is best to always expect layoffs here.

I came to AT&T believing in things. Hard work, learning from sc--w ups, helping my team. This place broke all of that out of me. When you make a mistake here, they don't use it to teach you. They use it against you. Teamwork means watching your back while management races you toward deadlines. Initiative isn't welcome. You do what you're told and nothing more. There's no real culture. Just constant watching, constant correcting, and always the sense that they're looking for reasons to cut people.

Everyone I know is burned out. This place isn't what it was ten years ago. We'd all leave if we could but nobody's hiring. I've got a masters and 50+ applications out there. Not one response. The constant threats and fear have drained me completely.

Some managers here know exactly what they're doing. They tear at you until you're too tired and too unsure to leave. They make you feel lucky to have the job so you'll keep accepting low pay and bad treatment. It's a strategy.

This is the weirdest spot to be in. I actually enjoy what I do and the people I do it with. But the layoffs keep coming and they keep taking the best people. Every quarter I do the math. Who's left? Who went? Will it be me next time? I know the market is brutal out there so I'm trying to line something up. I'd rather leave on my own than wait for the tap on the shoulder.

I came here proud and now I'm just a shell running on fear and threats.

Keep cutting staff, squeeze the remaining people harder, and use fear to keep everyone in line. That's the strategy here. They're not even attempting to hide it anymore. Deadlines are tighter and tighter, expectations are higher, and there's always the unspoken warning about what happens if you push back. This is just how Wells Fargo operates these days.

"The call is coming from inside the house" is a famous horror movie trope and urban legend, most notably from the 1979 film When a Stranger Calls. It refers to a terrifying scenario where a person, receives threatening phone calls, only to discover the stalker is already inside with them. Reminds me of Citi...

Does anyone else worry constantly that today could be the day? I can't shake the feeling that my position might just disappear. How do you cope with that?

This isn’t to be negative or to drag Fidelity Abby or the company as a whole. As a younger employee I certainly didn’t get to enjoy the Ned times, by the time I joined the green line was fading away as the main marketing tactic. Nonetheless, Fidelity allowed me to transform my life from being homeless to being a successful young licensed entrepreneur. The skills I learned and the people I worked with provided value to me that is unlike any other. It was an honor to work in the branch during the growth phase and see the success of the new associates. There was change but the one thing that always stayed the same was that fidelity was home it was family it was great. We all talked up the company because we really believed in it. At some point over the last year, people have stopped singing the praises of the green machine. I watched what was once a great branch full of culture and teamwork turn into a place of fear. Sure some people work harder than others but none of us were slackers. The fear has caused everyone to keep to themselves and that is resulting in accusations that we do not want to contribute.

THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP CLIENTS ARE FIDELITY. As someone who talks to clients all day long, trust me when I say they want the old fidelity back and so do the employees!!!!!

To talk about the aftermath of the upcoming LR?

All WF employees should be scared