Thread regarding Shell Oil layoffs

Folks there is life after Shell

@OP Try posting to the Exxon board and seeing if you can scare up a response. And if they don't, it will at least be something to write about.

you might end up way happier outside of shell. for years i was being ground down by the constant layoffs and when i finally got hit last year it felt pretty bad, but things have been much better since i left. took some time off the travel for a while, living off my severence and government benefits. had the time of my life. came back and found a great job after a few months. total compensation is about 5% lower, but its fully remote! and without the weird catty backstabbing people, culty leaders, and constant layoffs.

to the person asking why people come back to read about shell, its somewhere many of us spent many years of our career in. of course we're interested in the state of the company. good luck to op and others who are in a similar situation.

you dream of working?

I like to think of the layoff as a pay it forward opportunity. I can definitely say that when I was an employee at Shell questioning if this was a ‘normal’ office environment I frequented the site regularly but often only got limited outside perspectives (which are honestly the highest value). I can only hope that current employees hear more post Shell experiences and are empowered to make a change before you get too far into your career and realize you’re just another disgruntled, old Shell lifer who has nothing better to do than bi&ch about the company on the layoff but do nothing about it.

Pausing to think about this:
We as achievers often look back on troubled times where there was a cause to overcome and feel like victors instead of survivors and look back at the fellows who share that struggle as friends.
The sh!tty way that Shell is run now is the crucible for deep memories and comradery for the young. Older people see it as a burning dumpster fire. 10 years from now they'll be reminiscing about the struggle and how they managed to do something.

Maybe the old Shell was never so good as we remember it.

Ah for the days at Shell of a solid career path, leaders you admired and respected, positions to aspire to, exciting company growth, a collegial work environment, a defined benefits pension and retirement medical.
“Those days are gone forever, over a long time ago, oh yeah.” - Donald Fagen/Walter Becker

@ax there are a fair amount of these sorts of posts. “I don’t miss Shell but I’m on the layoff every week keeping an eye on it.” I get it to a point. Shell is life changing just from the pay alone but the friendships, network and personal marketability are highly valuable as well. It’s tough to not look back and wonder if staying would have been better especially if leaving wasn’t your decision. I’d love to remain another 20 years but that’s looking more and more unlikely with asset sales. I hope I’m able to disconnect completely when the time comes. If I leave on my own terms; I’ll be able to disconnect without a problem. If we’re sold off, I’ll be bitter at first and the disconnect may take longer than 13 months.

@ak your comment is a bit ‘Don’t look back-ish’ yet here you are 😉

Congratulations and best of luck in your next chapter of life! If your journey is anything like mine, you’ll look back a year from now and your only regret will be why you didn’t leave sooner!! I’m 13 months post Shell and am loving every minute of it!!! The company is a truly toxic place to work and it has been consistently getting worse over the last decade. With the current leadership it looks like the downward spiral will only continue and as you said, asset sales will keep happening giving smart individuals like yourself an opportunity to work them in another company that actually knows how to develop resource plays in a responsible, economic manner!