Thread regarding Honeywell International Inc. layoffs

True Story of firing.

After 38 yrs at Glendale Az, Honeywell terminated me Nov 4 because they not like what I had to say. I got a written-up warning for the Labor Reporting Training meeting in July because of my strong comments (no 4 letter words used ) telling the speaker how inefficient their new badge-in time request procedure is. She considered my laboring on that point as disrupting the meeting. There are witnesses who told me it was not that bad that a written warning was required.

Then in the company management re-org 2 months later my manager was let-go. He was my friend. The temporary manager thought it was funny in his introduction meeting (Skype from him in Clearwater Fla to just the 4 of us here in Glendale) to say, " you (engineers) are only here to create revenue and if you not think so then go to monster.com to look for a job cuz you aint working here." Well, I took issue with that by stating the evil in corp greed of stock buy backs, and unwritten mandate that we put in 15% free over-time just to bolster revenue to feed their greed with no benefit for the workers. My co-worker spoke to the guy after that meeting saying I have a lot of hot air, and was assured he will not hold anything on me. We had a follow-on meeting and there were no issues. He moved-on in a few weeks, and our group has a new manager.

Nov 4, I was called down to HR office . Shown into a closet sized office that wouldn't fit 4 people. HR manager was there with plant manager. She said I was warned about disrupting meetings and now this incident as reported by the temp manager is cause to terminate me. I told her this was just a small meeting among us, what he said provoked me into discussion, but she not care. They did not allow me to get my property from my office cubical, and when I called my wife on cell phone in the HR office they protested saying "no, she does not work here". Just as my wife on phone was upset I panic for the door to leave (I wanted air), then plant manager tried to keep me inside by slamming the door just as I reached it. I felt a sense of imprisonment. I forced it open to run out and there the security guard manhandled me from going forward, so I went into defense posture with my fist but did not hit him, he while on me slammed me to the carpet floor, the skin on my arm got carpet burn so it bled. I also suffered two burned knees, bruised left elbow and right leg.

I asked the HR if someone can just go with me to get my things and she said no. She said if I step back on any Honeywell property I will be arrested for trespassing. That under any way, shape, or form I am not allowed back to any Honeywell facility. I asked what if I went subcontract and she said no to that also.

My wife overheard as my phone line was open the security guard bragging, " you messed with the wrong guy, I am a former police officer. "

The Glendale police escorted me to my car and off the property.

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| 6127 views | | 18 replies (last November 16, 2019) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+11U5ZWt9

18 replies (most recent on top)

8snn

if you were in Clw, then a tech who didn't really care for you has just 5S'd your stuff into a round file. Ask a friend to get any personal pictures for you, if they still exist.

I sanitized my cube to be the poster-boy for 5S about a year prior to maneuvering my layoff. Miraculously, there was nothing in my filing cabinets or desk that had to be retrieved after being called back in from vacation to be laid off.

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Post ID: @9mwb+11U5ZWt9

I still have not gotten my stuff back after getting the boot.

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Post ID: @8snn+11U5ZWt9

After many years, I have come to this conclusion. If they keep paying me, I will keep showing up for work and when they stop paying me, I won't.

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Post ID: @5rdm+11U5ZWt9

Courageous? Maybe, as long as you're prepared for the consequences.

You can't blame HON or any company for looking to get the work done for the lowest cost. That is the nature of business. As long as the government allows it, companies will move work off shore, bring in cheap labor, squeeze the existing workforce, whatever they think could get the job done at lower cost.

HON or any big company isn't going to change policy just because people voice discontent. If they see lost productivity (output slowing or more people leaving than they can manage) they will respond. It's all about the $$ and always has been. When I started at Sperry in the late '70s they were monitoring attrition and employee replacement cost to help determine salary increases and benefits. There wasn't low cost labor at that time so the dynamics were different but the drivers and the process is still the same today.

You want to change your circumstance? Find a job at a company that values its employees more than HON. Too old to change? Minimize your HON contribution and spend your spare time doing something that generates extra income. Put yourself in a position to get severance pay in case of layoff or self nominate if you're in a position to do so.

Whatever you do, lobby your representatives to support laws that protect US workers. Vote for people who will support your best interests.

Running your mouth may feel good at the time and gain you the admiration of your coworkers, but is that really what's best for you and your family? If yes, then go for it!

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Post ID: @4bwe+11U5ZWt9

OP—You are courageous. I wish you were more bold and courageous 30 years ago!

Eitherway, you did the right thing to speak up and stand up for your beliefs and rights. You allowed yourself to be treated and abused like a slave because 'you were afraid' of what you'd do, if you got fired—and feeding the family and yourself!

However, one must stand up and defend their position and territory even if you risk losing everything. Otherwise, you will forever be a slave and lose all possession, esteem, respect, dignity and every good thing eitherway!

I see a lot of cowards here, barking as if they were big wolves. However, you old timers are weak and an embodiment of rotting cowardice! You cannot stand up for your rights and end up tucking your tail between your legs and obeying like a servile and menial person. Is this the lesson you wish to teach the younger generation?

To accept slave like treatment?
To accept abuse?
To accept manipulation, lying, theft and exploitation?

And then you try to recover your pride by venting out on your peers to show how great of a person you are? This is a well-studied crowd-control psychological tactic that is used to:

1) Promote fear—fastest growing and spreading emotion!

2) Allow an escape route such as bend, kneel and you shall be forgiven—as a way to prevent you from fighting and standing up for yourself.

3) Choose some among your peers to represent lower management—and these folks think they are important. Little do they realize that they are easily expendable and are like pawns on a chessboard.

4) Choosing weak minded Directors from your peers to spread more fear and hesitation.

5) You'll always be abused, manipulated, exploited and spat upon—unless you organise and stand-up together for your beliefs and self-esteem. Win or lose, you have to muster some courage, speak up, resist, refuse and get rid of this filthy fear-mongering dogs in positions of management. Later on, you can tackle that jackal and wolf who manages these dogs among you!

Op—you did the right thing! Encourage your peers to speak up early before this rot spreads further and affects everyone else. RESPECT!

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Post ID: @4ann+11U5ZWt9

38 years at a company (any company) and you're surprised that mouthing off in public brings sorrow?

I'm no fan of the place, but anyone with half a brain and taking the perspective of a powerless boss, the boss does not want to be ragged on in public, nor have Captain Obvious point out what is wrong, without also laying out an alternate solution, with statistically predictable positive outcomes.

Neither an owner of a small business, nor some poor schmuck of a boss wants problems pointed out with no solutions forthcoming...just whining, You can bet it wasn't his idea...he's living with the pain of it, too, plus the pain of having a whiner in his ranks, to boot.

Surviving a lousy work environment requires maturity and silence. Everyone breaks at some point...this was your breaking point.

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Post ID: @2brl+11U5ZWt9

It's OK to tell your boss in private that you have concerns about a new process or policy and explain why you think it will affect you, your colleagues or the company is an adverse way. Doing it in public undermines your boss, hurts employee morale and is generally disruptive.

Chances are, your boss has serious reservations about the policy, but it is his/her job to convey/explain it none the less. Can't tell you how many times I have weathered one of these changes, spoken with my direct reports about it in private and watched it "blow over" in time.

At some point in our careers, we all get to the point that the next change isn't worth it anymore, we have too much money, too little time and too little patients to let it blow over. Best to try to exit gracefully, in a way that is most beneficial to yourself and family.

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Post ID: @2viq+11U5ZWt9

I've had ex-colleagues at HW get written up & terminated for a few choice words (disagreement with new policies, mostly), and it never ends up pretty. I'm mostly surprised that security actually had someone employed with relevant experience. Should've asked him why he got fired from his law enforcement job.

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Post ID: @1snn+11U5ZWt9

“And its ok for the manager to stab you in the back after giving assurances he not got back at you alone?

Spouting off for fairness for workers . Attorney says they are wrong going after me.”

1) yes, it’s Allied. For 20 years they have been telling you this in a one way or another.
2) spouting off at Allied is like screaming at the Sun - it just doesn’t care. Again, 20 years they’v Told you.
3) would you hire the attorney if he said they were right to come after you? If the answer is no, you know the “yes” has an * on it...

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Post ID: @1epz+11U5ZWt9

When you remove the scoffer, you get peace.

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Post ID: @1xdo+11U5ZWt9

And its ok for the manager to stab you in the back after giving assurances he not got back at you alone?

Spouting off for fairness for workers . Attorney says they are wrong going after me.

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Post ID: @1dto+11U5ZWt9

If you choose to spout off like that, then the outcome is quite predictable.

Question is, did they offer you severance or extended medical coverage? This info would be beneficial for those that might wish to "self nominate" as you did...

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Post ID: @1ckd+11U5ZWt9

I hope you’re poor right burns heal.

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Post ID: @1dlm+11U5ZWt9

it was not embellishment but clarification and getting all the events . Wife told what she heard on phone so I updated my account. Besides you try being there and getting ruffed up , it takes time to get it all together afterwards. See how it feels getting pulled into HR closet with no one but yourself for support.

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Post ID: @jts+11U5ZWt9

amazing how much this story was embellished since the first time it was posted. smh

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Post ID: @vkd+11U5ZWt9

Pretty pathetic for the company to treat you like this after almost 40 years there. Just retire and enjoy life. You probably extended it by not working there anymore.

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Post ID: @pqi+11U5ZWt9

I assume you have filed an assault complaint against the security guard? If not do so and get a lawyer. This sounds like a deposition.

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Post ID: @icl+11U5ZWt9

Thanks for sharing your story. This is a good reminder for the rest of us close to retirement to never speak up. Keep your mouth shut and just nod your head in agreement. They are looking for any reason you give them to write you up and terminate you.

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Post ID: @jqn+11U5ZWt9

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