Thread regarding Shell Oil layoffs

Shell is a continuous layoff machine. Every time there is an economic bump it's time for a re-org, forced MOR etc. Good excuse to lower job grades & cut costs. Reasons for it are always the same...just change the dates on ppt. Miserable environment but not unique to Shell either.

Various parts of Shell have had layoffs in the past 35 years. In the U.S., I well remember the one in 1992 which was apparently the first in a long time, then a follow-up in 1993, another in 1995, then a big one in Chemicals in 1999 when we drastically scaled it back, then a big one for my organization in 2004 after five years of avoiding follow-ups, then a big one in 2009, then 2014/15, then a follow-up in 2017/18, then 2020, and now 2021+. Some were triggered by recessions (1992-95, 2004, 2009, 2020) though the layoffs took so long to decide on and execute that by the time we let people go, the recession had ended and business had already picked up again and we were suddenly very short of staff. That was more than mildly annoying.

Security these days - if you are a woman and one of color you have nothing to worry about...

I’ve been working in the oil and gas business for 35 plus years. I got hired on when major oil companies would hire one year and layoff the next year. The first time I went through layoffs I made a promise to myself to never allow myself to be in this situation again financially. Once a person gains financial independence you can go through layoffs with less concern. With any company a person is associated with the number one item is profit margins, always remember that. psychology tells you a person will work twice as hard for themselves than for a company.

Many of the so-called experienced and knowledgeable people can find top-level jobs at snow cone stands and janitorial service companies.

I think it depends on what kind of experience you have. It maybe difficult for offshore engineer since none of the majors are really hiring and it can be challenging to compete with people with onshore experience in onshore position.

44 years at Shell Small reorgs every couple years and major ones I went through in 95, 09, 14/15 and 20 allowed me to plan for retirement with a very nice severance. Thank you Dutch incompetence. Not sure the company will last that long for you unless they fire uncle Ben but a young technical person will have no issue finding work with Shell on their resume.

Transition 2009 was a big one–company wide, every one in MOR, etc. Young engineers typically fare well finding technical roles in other industries, though maybe it takes a step back to get ahead. Some also go to graduate school to reboot careers.