In 2014, I met an H1-B Visa worker. I had been on the job for a year. She came outside crying. I asked her what was wrong. She told me she had just been fired. It was a RIF. I was relatively new. I saw many others shown the doors same day. She had graduated from the MBA program from the Kelly School of Business that Cummins had paid for her degree. Every year about 20-25 people are admitted into the program. I later ran into her in town, both her and her husband.
He was a an Engineer in Indy, they had just bought a house and had a son. Planning a future. She informed me that she had 30 days to find another company that would sponsor her visa. It cost $10k not counting her salary. If she couldn’t secure it in 30 days, she was informed that she’d be sent back to India. A month passed, she was sent back, her husband also, and their son was born in US. She had to secure a passport for him to enter India for the first time. They’re hopes and dreams all collapsed. Everything they worked for here.
The second RIF, I witnessed in 2017. Early retirement packages. People losing careers with Cummins thru no fault of their own.
Others not eligible for retirement, shown the door regardless of their performances.
Out with the old; in with the new at less costs to the company. January 2020, I witnessed my third RIF. Friends, adversaries, colleagues wiped out. Whole teams. No fault of their own. Non-performance issues, attendance, team controversies etc. Instead, it was downsizing, restructuring from new leadership. I saw a person who had been with the company 25 years shown the door, another 16 years, built teams, drove business, achieved success, contributing to new direction all resulted into a box of belongings at their cubicles. This was ALL during good economics.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend Cummins to my worst enemy. I’ve seen the destruction they’ve caused to good people. Loyal, hardworking, and superstars who all invested themselves heart, soul, and spirit into a mirage. The phrase “Cummins Family” or “We value our employees” is just a myth held in hands by those who are next.
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I was RIFed in January, and noticed that all of use who had 1-3 years at CMI easily found jobs at other companies, no issues. Those who I've seen struggle to find new roles are those who either spent their entire career there and/or were there for more than 4 years. Diesel engines is something very specific even within the auto industry. Unless you're from the Midwest and need visa sponsorship, don't get comfortable in your position, RIFs are ruthless. However, they are a well-known fact at this company so people who chose to stay there do so at their own risk. My advice is to get your 2-3 years of experience and move as soon as you can.
Cummins knows they are in clear violation.Let them dig their holes like they are doing with China. Cummins is a sell out
Sorry, I don't feel sorry for the Indian woman because when she was brought on, it was to replace one of the thousands of RIFed AMERICAN technical professionals. I also worked at Cummins for 15 years and survived the every 3-4 reductions in force until I hit 50 then bang... out the door right after getting promoted to engineering group leader. Pathetic company that has traded all of their experienced engineers for cheap younger replacements. Let them burn.
I spent 14 years at Cummins. What a waste of time. Over that period, I watched the company go through 9 RIF’s, freeze salaries twice and cut out bonuses once.
They absolutely age discriminate when doing RIFs. If your over 50 you have a target on your back. This is not a company you’ll ever be able to retire at.
My career skyrocketed after leaving. My salary is almost triple after 10 years of being gone.
I feel bad for all the people who have had their life’s wrecked by Tom Linebarger and crew. I hope they rot in hell.
Cummins is cutting costs by contracting outsourced work. The talent pool they lose is a non-factor in their view. They feel bringing in cheaper labor, and cutting costs are the keys to market expansion. They’ve in-housed HCL for 15 years, providing outsourcing resources. Those resources have historically been futile. Sub-talent, next person up to fill the seat. A person could’ve been bagging groceries for a living, applied to HCL, and now working for Cummins. HCL is only concerned with rotating demand by filling seats for Cummins; Cummins is only concerned with cheapest expense. Neither HCL nor Cummins is committed to quality.
I was a hiring manager, and received multiple inflated resumes from HCL. During several interviews, I posed questions that the applicant had no idea, but it was listed on their resume. Many of whom admitted that they had no experience in that area. HCL has historically provided sub-talent to Cummins, that were brought into the company for cost savings, while Cummins was downsizing existing talent. Cummins Leadership has been fully aware, but has accepted sub-talent in favor of cost reductions.
Last year, I walked into the break room one morning. Just like every other morning to get coffee.
I saw a kid sitting there working on his laptop. Initially, I just thought he was someone’s kid brought in to meet people. I was stunned to find he was on a work program hosted by Cummins. He didn’t look like he was old enough to have a driver’s license. He was in high school, and being trained for work at Cummins. Throughout that month, I witnessed several other high school students on-site.
I witnessed this event for the last 3 years take place. High School students delegated workload from Cummins personnel. The same personnel, many of whom, were later cut in RIFs. Cummins cutting costs down to the High School level. Bringing in High School kids to cut expenses. SMH.
Cummins will not get talent anymore. The word is far out there now. STAY CLEAR FROM CUMMINS
Very well said!
And that is why they are having trouble holding onto new empoloyees even the hourly. In the technical field, Cummins is being regarded as a high tech sweatshop. People who think they are exempt and safe are in for a rude awakening. It's not their bosses who make the decision it's many level higher than their boss and from what I read you only find out that your being RIF on that day and walked out that day. I feel sorry for that Indian woman and her family, all her hopes and dreams where smashed and I wonder how easily it will be for them to get back into the US.
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