I have a couple of years left until retirement. But I have been lucky enough to belong to a generation that could accumulate some wealth through professional engagement. Nothing spectacular, but I paid off all my debt, have some savings, and have been lucky so far with a few small investments — all in all, enough not to be bothered with this sh-t anymore. I can take on some consultancy gigs if need be. I don’t want to go through reorg that’s coming and be stressed about prospects of losing a job that I definitely do not care about anymore. I hope things will turn around, and my younger colleagues will have the opportunities that my generation has enjoyed most of the time. Good luck to all of you next year and beyond, and try not go nuts from anxiety. Rather invest all the energy into what’s good for you.
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@mlm I do have a bunch of watches with my Chevron Pins attached to them! The last one was for 35 years before leaving a year later. Sadly they are all in a drawer in my second bedroom closet with all the batteries dead at this time. I might get them cranked up again at the local jeweler except here in California you get robbed wearing even a decent watch which they are. ;)
@vrq, at least you got the pizza party (yes, woohoo! - such appreciation for your years of service!). In 2020, we weren't allowed to tell anyone we had applied for the EOI, with the veiled threat that telling people might jeopardize our application. That also meant we couldn't "transfer knowledge" to our successors during that time. After we received formal approval for our EOI (about 3 weeks after applying), within 2 weeks we were expected to be out of the office and laptops turned in. Of course, "out of the office" meant nothing since this was during Covid and no one was in the office anyways. Decades of service, no retirement party, not even an email from Corporate thanking us for our dedication. For the "grads of 2020", our only consolation was the fat severance package (especially if you were close to retirement age anyways) JG gave us.
I retired in 2017 still going strong. One thing I had to decide was as a 2013 California transplant when layoffs were coming around you couldn’t have a package and a Company paid return to California and assistance with your mortgage. I decided to take the move back option. Company paid me to move home to the Bay Area. With all that goes into any major move half way across the country it made the most sense. I would have liked to have had both. But it don’t work that way. One thing you never heard mentioned when I moved my family to Houston. I retired and got a going away pizza party. Wooohoo!
I am going to wait for the EOI. I put up with this for quite a few years and a few more months won’t make a difference. I am over 55 and every layoff they constantly keep me and get rid of the younger folks, go figure. Just finish the race and hit the EOI button and start a new chapter! Thanks for your years of service!
I’ve never understood people working and planning for decades then stumbling a couple months short of the finish line.
OP: Best wishes. These decisions are never easy, but it sounds like you made yours with clarity of mind and to minimize the stress and anxiety that these uncertain times bring.
To everyone else: I hope you will land in your preferred option. Take care of yourselves and remember that there is more to life than your current job (easy to say, I know). 🍀🍀🍀👋🏻👋🏻
Just a word of warning - those of you "close to retirement" should never tell management you're considering retiring. Good news is you'll probably still get the EOI option (if you stick around for it), bad news is you and your position will be "X'd" off the depth chart, you'll have no recourse should you change your mind. Prior to the 2020 Boomer Purge, managers went around to sound out employees over 55 with the euphemism "what's your runway look like?". Best non-answer? "We'll just have to see what comes along". Good news? If you're mentally and financially set to retire, just throttle back, do the minimum, come in late and leave early, skip all the safety and diversity requirements, wait for the EOI, and make sure you get that letter that the company has accepted your EOI application. If you've worked (probably hard) for Chevron 20 years or longer, you've earned a few months of easing back. The only favor you owe the company is to let your likely successor know your workload and contacts.
For some people it's only about every penny. For those who are satisfied and have more than enough, it's about moving on with life and enjoying it. Maybe one day some of you will learn.
Good for you. You have achieved what everyone working for CVX wants to eventually achieve. Hope your life is full from now on. Do not look back. I have found I do not miss it!
You walked away from a year of salary and six months of unemployment and cobra? Just to save a few months of uncertainty? Ok.
I've decided to retire, now if chevron could just pay me out.
Congratulations on your decision to retire early! It takes a great deal of strength and clarity to make such a significant choice. It's clear that you've carefully considered what’s best for you, and I truly admire your ability to prioritize your well-being and happiness.
Wishing you all the best as you embrace this exciting new chapter in your life. Enjoy the freedom and opportunities that come with it!
Congratulations, and thank you for all you have done. Enjoy your retirement! Most importantly, don’t look back - look forwards to all that life has to offer.
You didn’t wait for an EOI bag?