Thread regarding Enbridge Inc. layoffs

Time for some honesty. I'm afraid the horrible environment is really affecting my health. Anxiety so bad that I'm taking Dr. prescribed medication and still suffering. People attacking and backstabbing each other. I'm pretty confident that I have one person trying to get me fired. Management doesn't give a crap about my career. But I'm stuck due to my age in trying to make it long enough to get to a decent retirement. It's easy to say to not let in bother you. But let's be honest. Some professional disciplines don't have as good an opportunity to find another job as others. So here's hoping I either get fortunate and find another job or merely survive this one without a stress-related heart attack.

You get pounded by someone with a six pack...lucky!!!

I pound a 6 pack back every night just to get thru this all. Maybe things will improve one day.

You obviously haven’t worked at Enbridge for a while. The situation has changed. Bad behaviour is now the norm.

I worked at ENB for a lot of years across many levels of the organization, and I could count the amount of 'dorks' on one hand. Most people are easy to work with and want to just come to work and get the job done.

If you're a 'dork' then I suppose your own attitude comes back to haunt you and you cope by getting a lot of coffee.

Makes perfect sense to me. You, whoever you are, sound a lot healthier in the head than the average Enbridge employee.

My point was pretty simple: some people seem to be using the current situation as an excuse to act like complete d---s to each other. Some people think putting someone else down / making them look bad at work is going to spare them from being laid-off. I’ve found the best way to deal with this behaviour is to talk to the d--k in person, by inviting them for coffee. It’s not a revolutionary idea and I doubt it would work in every situation - but it’s just something that’s worked well for me in the past. I don’t think there is anything kiss-assy about it— it’s not like I’m going around broadcasting who the d---s are... I’m just inviting them to share their feedback/issue in person, and if they can’t defend their position, well, they get a free coffee out of it. So far, no one taken out for coffee has reacted negatively, and I doubt they would even think this post is about them lol. I think people are legitimately very preoccupied by their anxiety and don’t realize the impact their behaviour has on others. That’s kind of the thing about toxic work environments. Nothing happening lately is very ideal - this thread is about trying to cope with a sh--ty situation.

If you're going for a lot of 'coffees', maybe the problem isn't other people. Maybe it's you.

Coffee? Do you also invite your people leader/manager/director for a coffee? Do you also have other “kiss-assery” techniques aside from coffee? We have a project coordinator in our unit that calls almost everyone her “bestfriend” but says otherwise behind your back so she can please everyone, she also tells sad story about her personal life to gain sympathy from others (as if anybody really cares) and she goes on to talk really nice to anyone who can make her more important. Maybe you two should go for a coffee sometime LOL

Al, is that you? @TpA31OJ-6lhx

LOL

Clearly, you’ve missed the point. Coffee on Monday?

Go for coffee? That's your solution? For someone who dismisses 'controlling things you can and not worrying about things you can't', it sure sounds like that's what you're doing.

My advice, is don't drink and post then congratulate youself about it right after.

So many people at Enbridge, I’m afraid, who could use a coffee these days. Congratulations to the person who shared this practice with those of us who follow the discussions on this site. If we all took it up, it would lead to the company’s salvation.

I made the post that was congratulated, and I assure you I wasn’t also the one who did the congratulating! I actually noticed an error in my original comment that deserves the opposite of congratulations... I put “we’re” instead of “were” and then went on to criticize the ELT for bad grammar in their yammer drivel. Haha. My bad. Anyway, to the person who thinks I was tooting my own horn... how about going for coffee on Monday? :)

We now have posters congratulating themselves on their own posts. Just when I thought I'd seen everything.

Best post I’ve ever read on this site. Love how you neutralize the d---s through coffee meetings. Also love that you have chosen to actually speak to people as a human. Completely agree with your thoughts about Yammer and ELT. Both make my blood boil.

Something that's worked great for me is ignoring the advice of people at work, LOL! Dismissive platitudes like "Don't worry about stuff you can't control" we're making me more stressed out. I mean, if it was easy to stop worrying, don't you think I would? The reality is that the possibility of getting laid-off and the related toxic work environment will impact different people in different ways. Some people quite simply have more to lose than others. I have found it's more helpful to just acknowledge my feelings are legit and to work on changing things for myself, vs falling into the trap of comparing my reactions to that of other people. Most of the Enbridge leaders seem emotionally "delayed" anyway, so I have come to the realization that I'm better off dicking around on my phone or zoning out when they talk about the "morale" problem. Instead, I get my advice from people who actually are emotionally sound and have more to contribute than sharing a link to a TED talk - eg: doctor and psychologist. Seriously, if you can access professional help in your area, do it. And I'm not talking about the EEAP... I feel like the people who promote that haven't actually tried to use it. It's fine and I don't want to deter anyone from trying it, but it's not meant for long term support. You really need to take things into your own hands.

Another simple thing that helped for me is staying off Yammer. There's always something on there that makes my blood boil, whether it be basic grammar mistakes and typos from our extremely well compensated leaders ... or "kiss-assery" from the rank and file. I have yet to actually see something on there that's remotely useful for my job, so I have completely avoided it for a couple months now.

Personally, I'm not ready to leave voluntarily yet because I like my boss and my team and think it's possible things will get better. But, I did find it helpful to spend an afternoon looking at job postings and making a list of things I'll have to do if I get laid off. There aren't a lot of other employers where I work, so leaving Enbridge means moving for sure, which is quite daunting. I was really spinning my wheels thinking about how horrible that would be. After looking at other postings and making a list of what I'd need to do, it still seems horrible - but it does seem manageable. It's not the gigantic blob of horror it once was... and I also have a better sense of how much money I need to bridge me to a new job, and I'm a lot less stressed out about disrecionary spending now.

Lastly, I try my best to make work less sh--ty in my immediate vicinity. I find that one of the worst things happening these days (I mean, other than the stock going down like a lead balloon and the unsettling thought that we might have complete fools at the helm) is people acting like d---s to each other because they think putting others down and making them look bad will somehow spare them. I refuse to be a part of that and anyone who acts like a d--k to me gets an invite for coffee. It's funny how people can act super pissy on email or phone, but completely melt when you constructively confront them in person. Any time I've done this, I've received a full apology and near-tears confesssions that they are "just stressed out". Which, I can understand, but I'm not accepting it and letting it go unawknowldged anymore. After neutralizing some of the worst d---s, work life has been more pleasant and I also spend a bit of time each day just going around and talking to people and acting like a human and this has made all the difference in the world. I figure the ELT spends hours on Yammer everyday, so there should be no reason I can't spent a half and hour or so actually interacting in person, lol.

Hope some of this is helpful. Bottom line, take care of yourself and take matters into your own hands.

My team in houston has been going to the movies. Good team building and with as much as we have been going recently we will start getting discounts soon!!!!!!!

I've seen people taking naps in their office and also heard someone snoring while on the toilet.

Saw a privileged millenial appearing to be on a conference call but playing a video game on their phone.

Yippee-ki-yay, mfers!!!!! WHOOOOOOOO

Listen to your doctor. If you let it continue your health will only get worse and require even more time off. No job is worth your health. Self care is both essential and expected. Put your needs first. After all, that is what the company is doing.

My suggestion, take some time off and call EFAP to get support in managing this increasingly challenging environment or gain the strength and tools to look for a healthier one to work in. Take care and good luck.

My health has gone in the tank also. I'm seriously considering taking sick leave as a doctor recommended.

The real question is how do you cope with working for an evil corporation?

What you wrote also resonates with me. Over time I have found that the following helps me, and hopefully they can help you.

1) You are more than your job. Yes you can be proud of your career, take pride in your work, but remember you are someone’s child, maybe a parent, a sibling, and what those people think of you is far more important than what some grey haired white guys running the company think.

2) Do more of the things you like to do outside work.

3) Exercise is a great anti-depressant.

4) Ignore anything coming from Performance reviews, IDP’s, or any of that crap coming from HR. Participate only as much as you have to. All of it is geared to make you believe you can one day can be president, just work hard and swallow the kook-aid. Odds are you won’t be president even if you wanted to, so invest the time in yourself, and when they tell you are in the group the same as 80% of the employees with some euphemistic label like “Successful Contributor”, realize it wasn’t a fair game. Don’t swallow the kook-aid, spit it out after leaving the room.

5) Prepare to leave. Educate, gain experience, network outside the company, and financially prepare in case you get axed. Knowing you are prepared will take a load off your mind.

I too have tried a number of stress-busting techniques. I was even desperate enough to participate in the “Wellness Program” in hopes of shedding some of the anxiety. Of all the things I’ve done, including many of those you mentioned, I found I get the most relief through the following means:

1. I have a stack of xeroxed photos of Big Al and I pin one to my dart board and lob darts with a smile. Knowing I copied them on an ENB photocopier is icing on the cake.

2. I have photos on my computer of a few heavy hitters within the organization I feel contribute to the toxic environment. I will take breaks, when stress level warrants, and I will open one up in MS Paint and deface then with horns or place appendages on their forehead.

3. I take photos, again...of heavy hitters, and make memes and post them to an anonymous underground group which I admin for...comprised of current and former ENB employees. This is a real hoot and it gets pretty twisted.

At the end of the day you just have to find a means to maintain your sanity best you can. Knowing Big Al’s days are numbered helps!

I feel your pain. So much of what you wrote in your post resonates with me! For me, I am doing a combination of things.... I saw my doctor and got some anti-anxiety and anti-depression medication (first time I have ever been on that type of medication), I also started meditating and doing yoga - anything that gets you active. I also recommend reading books about well being and mental health. Brene Brown has a lot of good stuff. Also remember that Enbridge has short and long-term disability benefits that you can use if needed. Don't let the stigma stop you from taking the time you need! Bottom line is you need to put yourself and your health first! In the end, I am pretty sure that Enb is no longer the company for me and I will be looking elsewhere. Good luck!

I'm starting to think that the best coping strategy is to start looking elsewhere. Like someone else said, just focus on the things that you can control and that is something that you can.

Well, I've been laid off and I know what you're going through. The best coping strategy is to focus on the things you can control and don't fret about the things you can't.

At the end of the day, if the worst happens, it is just a job. You pick yourself up and find another one.

Running