Thread regarding ExxonMobil Corp. layoffs

@cmmv+16Tkxlu4

While good advice in navigating exxon's system. For a system that values meritocracy, It's grotesque that we would simply discredit people because of years of experience. We value people too much just based on how we navigate our systems.

I have seen many good engineers come in from outside the company and get ranked poorly because they haven't come up through EM and don't understand our systems, don't understand acrynoms, etc. Why would anyone believe they should be contributing more if you are having them jump through hoops to understand what you are saying half the time.

We also value way too much of the "step out" (generally useless above and beyond base job) activities. The reason managers get ranked well is because they have the time dicking around coming up with these new initiatives to "improve efficiency, performance" (b—s—) that doesn't even stick around but a few months, year maybe? Meanwhile they discredit, rank poorly, demotivate all the people actually doing work keeping the place running.

Like seriously, why do we have supervisors that for the vast majority of employees have zero experience in the work that they are overseeing their employees do? All they do is push safety meeting and micromanage work they don't understand.

Having participated in the ranking process, I will say that it’s difficult. We have a lot of amazing people always delivering amazing value. Unless you deliver significant business value every year, you will find yourself in the middle or at the bottom. The value of your contributions are weighed against everyone else’s. If you are an experienced individual contributor who is in the same CL as employees with much less experience than you, the completion is much harder. Because if you have more experience you are expected to deliver more value. I have been up and down the RGP a few times over my career and will say that having someone recognize my potential has pulled me out of a rut. So if you are in the Good category this year, look for ways to deliver significant value, while demonstrating leadership, and give your boss lots of public credit for inspiring your success. Don’t let your current assignment limit you. Look for ways to make a difference.

No one who was PIP’d will survive. The supervisor that is saying you won’t pass is just being honest. This is a covert layoff, not a performance improvement program. And for those that are not NSI, salary and promotion curves are contracting. That means no raises and no promotions for several years.... unless we see a major rally in O&G.

@6cpz+16Tkxlu4 - I would like to see someone try, but I can't help thinking that it's a waste of time. It all rests on the ranking, which is done in secret and in 30 years, I have NEVER seen anything written down. I would think that they will just say: "Yes, your KO feedback was good, but your overall performance for the last year - especially given your CL and YEE - was ranked in the bottom 8% and according to company policy, you fell into the NSI grouping". How is anyone going to be able to argue successfully against that? It happened to me and the only viable option I could see was the PIL.

Report to the regulatory agency directly, no point going thru HR, they are not helping instead, they will expedite the reduction !
I am from HR, take my advice!

To those indicating that they were PIP'd due to supervisor demeaning/belittling/targeting - I would recommend reporting to HR for harassment. Even if you have no faith in the system, if you truly believe you have been targeted and have examples/other people who would corroborate this belittling is occurring then you have enough to at least open up a case. This would cause a second pause on any further performance action towards you by the company due to the liability.

XOM has to cut about 30% of their workforce to survive. Because Woods bragged to investors that there won’t be layoffs, this is how they plan to do it. XOM is in survival mode but too afraid to admit it, trying to avert a further drop in investor confidence. They have a gushing wound due to many missteps over the past 10 years, and are scared to make the wrong move. They are also waiting to see what happens in the Nov election. With higher taxes and incentivized clean energy, I don’t think the company will survive.

If you are that close to 55 I think you are safe. A close friend of Mine is a manager and she said that if you will turn 53 this year you are safe. Now if the dissolve your entire department, you might not be. But I believe they would then give you full retirement. But your pension would be discounted if you start drawing it before 60. I heard that there will be a period of incentivized severance, after which no one will be able to take there pension lump sum.

If you are months and even a year from pension qualification you need to hire a representative and they will probable inform you to record any and all communication with your direct supervisor and there HR reps.

I think they would be setting themself up for a disaster if your that close

For my supervisor, who never shows up to campus, the PIPs were personal. She lies during reviews and belittles and demeans employees who are on her PIP Plans in front of others. She tells NSI people up front they will never pass her PIP.

Old timers have a lot knowledge and are definitely NOT the lazy ones. We spend most of our time doing the real work, while SLS and up come in late and leave early and have drag you to a meeting to talk to the reports because they can’t be bothered to learn it as they know they are there for only 16 to 24 months and they moving on up. Us OLD TIMERS have more dedication, integrity and ethics them most of those just climbing the ladder. But then the newer doesn’t even feel like they to respect anyone... sad sad sad

@eyt+16Tkxlu4 a little cold hearted don't you think? If he can do a value added job at a decent market rate in his latter part of his life than you leave him there. You got to have a sense of compassion for people especially old timers because they built the place and bring more value than you think.

Kissing a$$ isn't the answer. If market conditions change that reduce the value of his role then adjust his compensation reasonably for him to continue working while still being valuable to the company. If that isn't reasonable than you give him a decent package comparable to what our competitors pay.

That's why we pay you guys, to figure out these things and make the appropriate corrections while keeping jobs and keeping morale stable. Clearly you are failing so you call people lazy, very intelligent response.

@eyt+16Tkxlu4 I was actually told I did a great job during the evaluation period and it was the previous year the manager wanted to terminate me because I pointed out the reprecussions of an option they were in favor of. I was not pip'd or ranked low then. I was not even told that there was an issue. They said to my face this year that if they had it their way last year, I would have been gone. But I got lucky because others liked me (Knowledgeable Others). But now they have the control they should have had. They have the power now to override Knowledgeable Others, no questions asked. I could not believe what I was hearing as this is against policy. Direct supervisors/managers could not do this in years past because controls were in place to not allow that. This year, VP's and upper management washed their hands clean of the ranking process and told the managers/supervisors to pick who they wanted to cut and HR would help them make a case. I was given no examples or rationale for an NSI during this last evaluation period. After 29 years with the company and 51 years old, no medical insurance now, no lump sum option, it's sad. But I will stop complaining because some of you think I must have been lazy and deserved it. Just wait until it happens to you.

No one bothers about your 28 years of contribution. You had been compensated.. you will be NSI because you got lazy, so that is why your manager is warning you.. remember.. only contribution from “April last year to March” matters.. Longer than that.. no one cares.. and! Do continue praising the managers.. they may just vote you to stay till retirement..

Good luck.

Even if the now isn’t based on performance what are you going to do about it? Come on people, focus on what you can control and make the best of your situation. Complaining and being a victim will do you no good.

You will make it to retirement age, hang in there, Get your resume updated and start looking at the job market, take online classes to beef up your skills. Be ready to hit the ground running for a new job the day you can retire with benefits. With EM on your resume, you will be able to land a new job quickly.

@kmg+16Tkxlu4, but "the now" isn't really based on your performance, in many cases. Management is doing what they have to do to cut staff, and the way they're doing it is just wrong. On many levels.

Your previous ranking has no weight. Have to live in the now.