There are plenty of other places out there that treat their employees better and actually care about ethics. I left three years ago, and I haven't looked back since. I feel sorry for the people I used to work with who are still stuck in that mess of a company. Hopefully, more of you will accept that there are other jobs out there, and you don't have to put up with it forever.
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Can't blame the ex-FAANG - they did what they had to do. Aren't we all soldiers of fortune?
It's the imbecility of the leaders thats the real horror story - the honorable CIO, his VPs, the Sr. Director of AI, her Directors and Managers, and then the so-called "tech leads" - its a joke!
220k is honestly not a whole lot - its the standard. Chicago area retailers are paying $260k+ to 4-year exp AI-engineers. My cousin works for one of them. Much better work culture and environment compared to WBA in my opinion.
I’m an ex-FAANG myself, but agree with what the post below said - the inconvenient truth is that they are here b/c they have nowhere else to go. I came here b/c I had nowhere to go back when I accepted Walgreens offer. But now that I see other opportunities, I have zero regrets leaving this sh*thole of a company.
I love how ex-FAANG employees are starting to get exposed for what they are. Couldn’t hack it there and came here with some unwarranted level of respect only to collect their checks and accomplish nothing. They aren’t leaving because they have nowhere to go. If they did, they’d be gone. 220k plus stock isn’t some groundbreaking pay for tech/AI workers. It’s honestly probably lower end
@1nez+1s5waSN8 Agreed. If Walgreens wants to do better as a company, or at least IT department, hire more ex-FAANGs. They can solve tough problems and work hard. People don’t know how hard it is to get into FAANG unless they go through the interview process themselves.
@1nez+1s5waSN8 - exactly! I am ex-FAANG & I really felt that all-along. The complain culture. The blame TCS for all their woes to the extent being racist about all Indians and how "they" steal visas lol. It's bizarre.
I am staying here as these are really turbulent times, I have a decent project to work on and my paycheck is nice. Moreover all organizations have some kind of rut, WBA is unlucky to have it all out in the open. I'll move or explore more once the dust settles down.
I've never worked at a FAANG, but every ex-FAANG person I know at Walgreens is very smart and has great ideas on how to make things better. They're also far less prone to whine about how it's so hard to get things done, contractors have all the power, the leaders are more incompetent than the ones we complained about last year, RTO su-ks, and they didn't get a bonus. I'm not saying these aren't valid concerns, but complaining doesn't help. Part of the reason I haven't left Walgreens is there are a few people around who still give me hope, and a disproportionate number of those are ex-FAANG.
That and I'm tired of bouncing around. The grass is yellow on both sides.
I knew the AI team wasn’t doing jack sh-t. Thanks FAANG person for confirming that and that the company keeps letting go of amazing people vital to actually running the business so you and your team can sit around and do nothing.
To answer the actual topic, as a commenter earlier proposed, my reason is financial. There are few jobs out there right now since many companies aren’t hiring, and the ones that are would end up being a huge pay cut for me as well since many other companies underpay.
@220K FAANG worker -- you are part of the problem with walgreens in that case, because you got culled at FAANG and now are here just cashing in while adding nothing.
Its a nice work environment with good pay and less responsibilities. I was laid off from my FAANG job last year and moved to the AI team here at Walgreens. I am making $220k+RSUs+potential bonuses. Leadership is very cool, I don't have to work as hard as FAANG + all the politics. Most directors in the AI team don't push us as hard and less is expected from us overall.
Everyone has their reasons for staying. Probably most are financial. Walgreens treats its employees like garbage and its likely many would leave if they had options. As the company continues to tank, the decision to leave may be made for us. Time will tell.
I was cut from FAANG and moved to Walgreens in 2023. The AI team is really nice. FAANG work culture is toxic. Walgreens gives me that flexibility to comfortably live my life while prioritize my family. AI team leadership is also pretty chill - I found it pretty straightforward to learn who to pander to, in order to not get cut. Shift or pitch the right projects that sound appealing to leaders. Plus I make $220k+RSU's, why would I go anywhere else?
Why do they stay? That's a great question. For the ones that stay for a company that is a bunch of crooks, pays fines nonstop...says it cares about the health of its customers and sell cigarettes to them....(now why would that be? is it the money...of course it is) they are the ones that have to look at themselves in the mirror every day and say yep this is my company but heck they pay me. Some say they are near retirement and are checked out. Some say it's a job and pays the bills. All pretty sad answers. Why doesn't anyone ask the so called CEO what VALUE in consulting(what a complete joke) Walgreens got for paying the so called previous CEO $375,000/month for many months when that person did nothing to help. Walgreens as CEO but bring it down. And to keep working for a company that has lost nearly 70% value in the last five years, also is beyond sad. Have some self pride.
Because I can't seem to get a job elsewhere. I'm in the tech org.
Hope all trying to stay bc of work friendships, loyalty- albeit errant-, etc: watch or rewatch the documentary Enron, the Smartest Guys in The Room. Someone had suggested it somewhere and I did over the weekend. Wow!! Whoa!! Some of the parallels almost creepy.
Anyone who is truly your friend will still be your friend if you leave. Likewise , anyone asking you to stay isn’t your friend or even thinking of your best interests!
I know of no one who isn’t better off financially AND emotionally in their new jobs at their new companies:)
All deserve to be happy & treated with respect!
Best of luck to all!
Near retirement. Mentally checked out long ago.
I have an interview today!! Hoping to get out of here soon. However I really do love what I do and my coworkers which is the reason I have stayed.. . It’s the executive leadership that I don’t believe in and the number one reason I’m trying to leave.