I am not a manager, but I can only help but feel bad that some great managers will have to let go of good employees, some who they have bonded with and became friends with, along with their families, over the course of their careers. These reorgs are not easy. I once had a very "tough" Ops Manager in MCBU share with me his emotions for having to let go of so many good people he had met and became close to in his career during the last big reorg. It is not always their choice, but this guy would fight to save you a spot if you were good. This being said, when all the spots are full and there are no more to save, don't blame your manager, it was a business need. We have to have tough conversations, sometimes we learn these things from our managers and gain a new level of respect. Right now, focus on showcasing how you can add value for an ever changing environment. Take time and help yourself and your colleagues to identity both yours and their strengths and weaknesses, and make a plan to act. Do not keep pushing conspiracy ideas from 11th hour alone-thoughts that you worry are true. Do not keep steering early careers away from the company when you have stayed this long and have been happy when the times were good. There will be good and bad times, give advice to help younger generations steer through the events, not run from them. Give them tools that helped you in your past. Be a good steward of the environment you want to promote, not the one you want to create because you're upset and want people to feel pity for you. It is not ideal that our company and the way we have to compete is changing, despite last year's financial and safety performance. The number one thing you can control is how you react to change. You can embrace it by taking time to add new skills to your tool box, hence you should add to your development items if you want the company to look at your potential to add new value in the direction the company is moving. You can buy in to help make the transition smoother, or go against the grain and refuse to change or evolve new skills (don't recommend since this is definitely considered fat in the organization, which is why were also in this situation). Just seeing the amount chevron employees here with long chevron careers misleading younger generations because they do not want to change is quite disgusting. Furthermore, you were all younger at one point and someone had to help you learn and get your start. This is pure greed if you're worried about lower PSGs taking your jobs, you have had the same opportunity to demonstrate your ability to add and create value. At the same time, for the early career folks, do not overstate your confidence. We all know you are new and learning your way. Show an eagerness to exceed what your manager expects you to do, and do it well. Remember, promotions will come if you start performing at the next PSG above you. Do not expect them to come quickly, it takes time and that is okay. Moving too quickly WILL hurt you eventually. This being a large reason we are here today, many have moved up too quickly without many of the core competencies, skills, and experience needed to lead. If you reach a point like many of the long career employees here who are resisting change, then you know that's what happened to them too. Don't sweat this reorg if you have been humble, hard working, and non-complaining. Take your time, get feedback from multiple good resources and focus on what's in front of you. You can't change what's already happened.
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@ac, That is only partially true and the effect is the same on the CVX employees as any other routine 5 year ~ 15-20% layoffs like we've always had. So not sure what your point is. After you've been through a couple you will learn to chill. Nothing to see here and no different than most other majors. Things change and life goes on.
This is exactly what Mikey is doing. He's a part of the Great Reset Crowd that meets in Davos and thinks that their plans don't get applied to the elite.
We're serfs from his vantage point.
@ac1, if what you say is true that would decimate both American middle class and what used to be the upper middle class. Turning US into a modern gilded age of the ultra wealthy and everyone else has a distinctly lower quality & harder life experience in economic terms.
@a8+1jm9z8nfm
This reorg is about replacing US workers with lower cost staffing in countries where wages are <30% of US wages. Your feedback would be accurate if people had a chance at keeping their jobs but this reduction is targeting good employees that are successfully performing their jobs. Chevron just wants to replace us with people who make lower wages. This will be the norm across US companies in the future. Profits above American workers. I apologize for my blunt honesty, but his is not the traditional layoff every 5 year cycle.
@a8+1 well said. This site has a purpose, and all opinions are free and welcome. Just want to give folks a sense of comfort and understanding to the disheartening situation, and advice to make it less difficult and more of an opportunity.
@a6+1 not a company man! Thanks for the assumption.
Great post OP.
Newbies need to remember that this place is where a ton of people come to vent about their own failures. Sometimes there are lessons to be learned and other times there are examples of mindsets to avoid.
There will be deep cuts and hard decisions to make in the coming months. Both employees and contractors that come here need to get their houses in order.
I've seen many share that there is a temptation to slack off and quite quit. Don't do this. It doesn't help your mental state. If your worst fears come to realization you'll be in a mental position of strength in interviews and offer negotiations. All slacking off and lower looping does is make you a less attractive candidate. Right now think of the one thing you've be trying to learn or achieve and do it. You have a safety net to experiment while you are here.
Without a doubt, this has been the most helpful comment I have read on this site. Thank you for taking your own time to post this.
As I was reading this, I couldn’t help but realize this was written by one pathetic company man.. groveling his way through life. What I simp!
The light was on.