Thread regarding ExxonMobil Corp. layoffs

Obviously we are not working in the same company. Most technical people in EMRE are staying in their fields and become so much specialists that it is counterproductive. I don’t see this as an issue. In fact I think the corporation needs technical people with broader knowledge and it cannot afford the specialists of the minutiae. The problem is that the company rewards managers that are moving around Very fast and they know basically nothing about the areas they “manage”. It is the generalist manager that is the problem. With no knowledge and no longevity in the position, she is never judged on anything substantial neither on the outcome of her initiatives. But what am I saying? What initiative?

Time to lay-off mediocre employees.

@xuy+17DFBjdT 🙄 Obviously your still there and look at the toilet you rejects are turning it into.

Mediocre? Aren't you being nice and generous to ExxonMobil. If you go out and work with the real best and the brightest, mediocre people will get insulted with analogies.

Pathetic is the right word to use for EM. Pathetic management and pathetic wanna be management employees is the right description.

Totally agree with your opinion. I used to have some technical skills and extended knowledge to get things done in our environment. Then the boss decided to move me to no man’s land. After 5 years there, I know nothing. I am behind on the progress made in areas I used to excel in. And for what? It is going to be difficult but I am trying to catch up to everything I missed while I was gone.

If only we got rid of the NSI sooner. This company would be in much better shape. Bunch of freeloaders.

@azt+17DFBjdT Besides of us been generalist, when we talk to our peers in the industry they have 15+ years of experience in the same position. Wonder why we have more people in our company than our competitors.

The assumptions that you can force the square peg into the round hole is so rampant. This has done more harm than good to the company and the employees. Some roles are ver skill specific, but the assumption of they will either sink or swim has only caused a set up for failure. So very disappointed in this company as that has not how you groom people for success! I am lucky and leaving with my retirement, but leaving is hard as I leave some behind to tread water during this mess!!!

So exactly spot on. I feel that after years of rotating in jobs I became "ExxonMobil's Jon Snow": I know nothing.

mediocre at best

Another contributing factor has to be the reward and advancement structure. You combine generalist strategy for people management, high profile/sponsorship, and quick advancement. Together, they incentive people to chase signature accomplishment, no matter the business justification. Classic "make the data fit the decision" instead of letting data drive the decision.

This is how we have progressed multiple projects that are not making expected returns (even before covid). The projected returns were a pipe dream to begin with.