Thread regarding Baker Hughes layoffs

Baker Hughes laid off all the experienced hands back in 2014 this was a very bad move .I worked for them for 40 years and got very little compensation for my time. Only missed 7 days in forty years

Business Transformation is here to save Baker Hughes. Digital and and a reimagined Service Delivery structure will provide the tools for the Baker Hughes of the future.

Only problem is: Once they roll out the new, efficient systems they won’t have anyone experienced enough to execute the work. So they will rely on one expert in the office to dictate commands to a goofball in the field. That goofball (no experience required) will follow commands dictated to an earpiece until eventually he is no longer needed because he is replaced by a camera, a sensor, or even a mannequin with a camera and sensor dressed in green coveralls.

The expert in the office will be okay for some time. Job security will be there, until the aforementioned Mannequin becomes self-aware and realizes he is doing most of the work. Then it becomes a matter of who’s cheaper to keep onboard...

It isn’t only Baker. This is happening at all OG service companies.
To many manager who think they know how to run the business but have zero idea of what the business actually does or manufactures. The philosophy of what made the company great is lost on them and it’s all down to Bean counting. It’s an absolute disgrace what these accountants are try to push through.

"They give no direction on the end goal and won't allow the employees to utilize their expertise. They just want to dictate your every move BUT they have no solutions to the problems that arise...."

Is this common company-wide? I thought my manager was the only one who worked like this. His micromanagement coupled with his lack of understanding of the technical details was awful and embarrassing.

The big problem is upper management, period. They give no direction on the end goal and won't allow the employees to utilize their expertise. They just want to dictate your every move BUT they have no solutions to the problems that arise, they don't want to acknowledge anything negative and offer a solution. Mainly because they don't have one, they aren't knowledgeable enough to understand what they are asking. Probably because oil tools aren't cars, the production is 180° the opposite direction. You can't "lean" your production line when your always making a different tool. Also, supply chain is cutting suppliers throats with discounts and forcing a 120 day net is only a band-aid for numbers. Baker won't have any suppliers left when an uptick happens and they've crippled their manufacturing capabilities. I predict Baker Hughes will be dissolved completely in the US by Q3 next year.

They can’t even get SAP right.

@6azr makes a good point although, to be fair, Craighead liked to call us a 'technology company' as well. Best thing that could happen to Chemicals, or any other division, is to get spun off. Baker has had no sense of itself for the last 10+ years.

Baker as a Technology Company is as much ill thought-out pipe-dream as both One-BakerHughes and Full Stream. Something that no customer asked for or wants. But at least Baker had the basic competencies for One and Full Stream - it was just a messed up organizational structure - what underpins Baker the Technology Company?

All this nonsense about the 'digital oilfield', it's not enough that it's pie in the sky to begin with, but you are competing with actual technology companies. Do they think customers will be like NASA in the movie Armageddon - decide it's easier to train roustabouts to become astronauts than vice versa? It's not as if they aren't already using competitor products (IBM owns Maximo for example) - who would you trust to digitize your oilfield - the guy that already provides you with specialist software or the guy who sends out the rough necks? Let's face it, most of us think being digitally challenged in the oil field means you've lost a finger when you got in the way of the tongs while making up pipe.

This whole thing is just another example of how senior management at Baker Hughes remain completely out of touch with all aspects of this (and any other) industry. Maybe they thought that simply steeling the logo of an existing IT company would make Baker a technology company.

@6azr Fun fact: BH is being sued by BMC for ripping off that logo. Apparently the person who approved it has never driven on the beltway. Nobody who has worked for BH is surprised.

BH being an “energy tech” company was always going to be a long-shot. They picked up businesses from GE that made (past tense on purpose) marketable hardware and software. They mistakenly thought that they could weave this into “green energy tech” and sell it as a the greatest thing since gluten-free bread. It suffices to say that this didn’t work.

Baker Hughes, and it’s new green paper clip logo, are desperately trying to reinvent the company into an earth friendly “technology” business. Gone are the pipe dreams of Full Stream and the ruse of being all things to all people in all things hydrocarbon. They need cash to do whatever flavor of the day they are now attempting to do, and they do not want any businesses in their portfolio that do not contribute to that vision. Chemicals, for one, will be divested, and they are actively positioning the business to be more attractive to any suitors. Simple as that.

One fine example is the Kansas District, it's lost alot of talented people over the last year, simply because of one self centered arragant individual that was only looking out for his own interests and career advancement s nothing else!! If Nalco doesn't swoop in and put the fork in this fried fish, it will just go away!! Good luck to those that see value in their employees!

@5iap My guess is that they all get laid off.

What happens to the folks in fluids if they “shutter” fluids? Spread them over to the other product lines?

Chemicals has contributed by getting rid of its high wage earners these past few months. Sure it only exacerbates its inability to compete against Nalco, and further cripples it to a point of no return, but at least top leadership is satisfied that the sacrifices were made.

Really, who is drinking this ‘Chemicals keeping the company alive’ tired, old koolaid? Losses so far this year $210,000,000, What exactly is Chemicals contribution to that? And how is that being kept alive? As for having it’s act together, that’s a joke, and if you don’t understand that then you’re part of the problem. Maybe look up Nalco on this website - no posts in 2020 and ChampionX doesn’t even have a listing.

Baker is desperate for cash - if they can sell Chemicals you better believe they will seriously consider it. That’s the only way that Chemicals will actually make any kind of impact.

Oh, and they’ve already announced they’re shuttering Fluids (someone speculated earlier they might sell it).

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baker-hughes-results-idUSKCN24N1IF

Chemicals is keeping this whole organization alive now. No way they’re getting rid of it. The only PL that has its c-ap together too.

@3bzq That already happened back in 2018. Culp coming in just before the separation sealed the deal in more ways than one.

BH is GE in everything but name anyway. All of the GE leadership was retained after the split, even down to the service managers. If it’s any consolation, BH competitors are all doing as bad or worse without the GE influence.

Baker is comprised of many companies who were market leaders in their particular sector. After they were bought they became second tier losers and followers. What went wrong? Has to be bad management. What else can it be? Just bad luck?

It’s a shame, a company once great hindered by its own incompetence (leadership). The technology is and has always been great. Somehow things always seem to fall through and the musical chairs of moving management throughout seems to disrupt more than its intention to solve.

What worries me the most is the drop in quality and service when an organization cuts so many people. Yes it is required to save a company, but the risks are high as well when critical folks are no longer there. High HSE risks for the people remaining, and Quality goes to hell. Baker could be done this time around.

Any bets what division is sold of first? DCF? Chemicals?

The GE leadership will run this company into the dirt.

Baker One has been the best thing to ever happen...for our competition.

Now, on to the robots and driverless vehicles that will keep the Co afloat.

When everything proves to be a failure, we will all remember the better days when each division was a leader in their respective segment.

Losers

@3rrq You make a good point. Again, I can’t speak for the UK, but for US/NAM there were a number of indicators flashing yellow even toward the end of 2019. The attempted rebranding as an “energy tech” company largely failed, rig counts were down year-on-year, and demand for LNG was flat. All Covid-19 has done for Baker Hughes is accelerate negative trends that were already taking place.

They were done when they went to Baker 1. What a dumb idea. This is was the beginning of the end

Also to pay your pension as no money left

Worst company I ever worked for all they does payoff one or 2 people every week with experience and replace them with graduates and trainees.
Aberdeen is in so much trouble with zero work the next 2 years.
People in our office with 5 years experience are classed as snr ?? It use to be 70% of the office was 20 to 30 years industry experience from workshop to management now lucky to find someone who is 10 years in. Its embarrassing I get sent to clients in Aberdeen after 14 months with the company as a trainees trying to get contacts . Next week sent offshore running tools then into the yard on return as no staff.

It is important to note that we are talking about loans here as opposed to handouts. The loan is subject to conditions and must be repaid. Right now, that loan may be the only thing keeping you in a pay cheque. Is Baker finished?...in its current form hell yea. Im sure sombody will try to blame the Bug, but in truth things were down the U bend long before it came to town.

All NAM Waygate employees got a week furlough...

I can’t speak for what’s happening in the UK, but stateside Baker Hughes is in real trouble. There are multiple rumors circulating about how Baker Hughes will begin large-scale layoffs across all businesses, is preparing entire businesses to be sold off, and will be shutting major facilities. Their Houston, TX workforce is supposed to be hit especially hard. All of this is expected to happen before the end of 2020 and continue into 2021.

Baker c-ap company now no direction no purpose just get rid of people when it suits them used and abused then wonders when they want to hire again they can't get anyone wonder why

Going back to broken arrow

People on here been saying for years it was going down the pan. No one listened. Serves you right.

Sstick a fork in it. It is done

I think this is lazy journalism- Baker isn’t a subsidiary of GE (not entirely sure if it ever was, technically), and, when searching for source info, the only other reference I see to HMRC suing someone is GE and not Baker. Now, you can argue the rights and wrongs of foreign multinationals getting access to these funds, there will be arguments on both sides.

As to the first question, ‘Is Baker Hughes Finished?’, the answer is ‘yes, yes it is’.