59 years old; aero engineer; 20 years here. Honestly, what are my chances to make it to 65? I've put resume and feelers out but I think age is a problem. So far I am super busy but?
Advice anyone?
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I read on this blog, of people who have provided decades of exemplary service to the company and then suddenly, in an instant, be insulted with a PIP, and now know what it feels like. But to add insult to injury, the idiot who imposed it has never directly produced anything for the company in decades, and has no technical, managerial or people skills. Prior to the PIP I was rejected for the last two VRIFs. Leaves me wondering...WTF? I suppose they want me to quit or die to avoid a payout. Good luck with that!
It is a sad, and yes illegal, situation where older workers are singled out for abuse. It would also seem to me that the company would end up with unscrupulous, if not heartless, managers. Who the hell would want to be a manager in this dysfunctional culture that requires that good and loyal employees be gratuitously screwed every six months? Must be even worse for HR people but they have to be super shady to participate in this execrable drama.
To 2xvv posting: Yes I believe you are right. Unfortunately this happened to me, as a site level manager I was put on PIP for no other reason that site director had quota to fill and he did not agree with my leadership style, plus he did the year before with our quality manager for the same reasons. Couldn't go to HR, because they are in cahoots with this during the MRR process. I felt that I could never get back to a 2 or 4 rating even by completing the PIP, so I left. To go from a 2 rating to a PIP in less than two years shows a lack of leadership on any directors/managers part. Appreciate your honesty.
Just to calibrate your thinking about being put in the elbow and a PIP, for what seems made up reasons - yes, the reasons are often made up. I was in management for over a decade; we are given a quota for numbers in the elbow. With no new hires, how could you chose who to put in the elbow? All on your team are great performers or you would have got rid of them long ago. Usually it was a painful exercise splitting hairs and who you think could stand it. Some just rotate the next person in. There's no fairness that can be claimed about the process in 99% of cases. I've exited, and I am thankful I will never again have to participate in that immoral process.
Thanks to everyone who has replied here- great advice and input- it's appreciated.
I am on LinkedIn; I have had a pro resume writer who totally knocked off my early 15 years at another company because it 'aged' me- not sure how I feel about that but I'm going with her advice for now.
I have had a stellar career but was shockingly put on PIP over a year ago for absolute made up reasons. I went from always being a 1-2 block to PIP with no warning. I almost quit but was in shock for a couple months and worked it through. I had proof the allegations were untrue but HR could care less. I was actually told that it didn't matter how much proof I had, it meant nothing because my manager wanted me on PIP. I know so many others this has happened to. Seems you get into the higher wage bracket the target on your back grows exponentially.
I thought first sure after that I would be RIFd- surprise, I'm still here; recently got a raise and a decent MIP so go figure.
I still think it's just a matter of time- just s---s to be so close to retirement yet not quite ready!
Again- really appreciate all the input. For the most part here it's been a good ride, sad to see it go so sour.
Good luck to all-
How are they treating you now? Are you seeing any of that "handwriting on the wall?". I got thrown in the elbow at age 58 without so much as a hint that my performance was being flagged. My performance was just fine by the way. I was also unlucky in that they were intent on outsourcing my niche type work ("not a core competency" don't-you-know). I was gone at age 62. I couldn't stand it anymore. Funny how many super stressed Honeywell people my doctor was familiar with. You might get lucky if you are considered a star performer and you are working stuff that they value and aren't in a lather to outsource. Save your money. Good luck.
I am in the same boat as you but don't want to work all the way to 65/66. And when I leave Honeywell may work part-time somewhere, but if that doesn't pan out there are volunteer opportunities to keep me busy. Am socking away as much retirement money as I can, etc. A big expense is bridging the years between leaving Honeywell's medical insurance and having Medicare kick in at 65. Looked at COBRA costs and other insurance alternatives (I would need family coverage) and am making sure that I have funds to cover that. As someone else said, maximize the money you are putting into your 401k. Start a ROTH IRA if you can to sock away some more funds which you can access tax free down the road. And put money into your Health Savings Account, but don't use it...I am keeping mine as kind of a savings account which I can use to pay for medical expenses, including premiums, during that "bridge" period.
If you want to work, getting professional help on resume is a great idea and take any interviews you can (without telling Honeywell) just to get practice in and test the waters. Good luck to you!
Hire a professional resume writer. He or she can emphasize your technical knowledge over your age. Benchmark with peers or previous co workers that are working on other places, ask them about future openings and let know your availability to change. Create a LinkedIn account, upload your resume and start connecting. Create an indeed account and search job positings daily. Indeed is a job search engine proven to capture most of engineering positions. Don't let your age stop you. You can't allow yourself be miserable for the next years because of that. There are many competitors that won't think twice to hire someone like you. Good luck!
Cote's brave new world - everyone hates it, yet the company turned around for the shareholders. Hang in there, take it one day at the time. You may have better options if compared to Uber, just wait and see what happens.
Yes, it's bad, I am 55 and I feel like leaving as well, cannot stand it any more.
I took the last VRIF at 60 with 18 years at company because I decided if I stay a year more, or maybe two, and am then laid off, I will never work elsewhere. You can become too long in the tooth at one place and lack credibility you can work anywhere else. Better to upgrade my skills and try a new career now, or find out I really am retired, than wait and and have the realization forced on me. With pension freeze, MIP halved, termination of remote work (a hardship in my situation), and very real possibility of further RIFs, whatever future lies before me I should begin that journey now. The colleagues who were my team retired or were laid off. So I am using the severance to upgrade my skills, network, make financial plans, and pursue the next phase of my life.
Shovel money into your 401k and hang in there for as long as you can stand it. I'm in a similar situation, taking it day by day. Early retirement is not ideal, but at some point you'll reach that "f**k it" moment where you would rather drive an Uber. It's honestly getting that bad.