So after being told that the layoffs were coming. Didn’t think much about it. But as it got closer it started to consume me. Everyone says ohh don’t worry it will be okay. The fact that people are used to this kind of treatment is worrisome to say the least.
This is a sickening feeling that the company has pushed down on people that work hard and do good.
The fact that management has pretty much quit communicating at this point makes it all the more insufferable. And veterans of the company just shuffle along.
I can say this. If I survive this round of layoffs, I will not stick around for the second round.
I will more than likely find a smaller company that values their people and doesn’t just look at them as a body to feel a spot until they deem it unnecessary. At this point I hope that I am laid off so I can at least get my severance and go on with my life..
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All I can say is that COP persists with the same old destructive management patterns that they perfected starting in 2002. Lie, lie, lie, and lie some more. I never cease to be amused that they continue to hire/fire, hire/fire, hire/fire endlessly. Look...at some point this is no longer a practice of becoming leaner or better managed. It’s as if they have never really been in the business of getting oil out of the ground, but are more in the business as a so-called “Fortune Company” that exists merely to s— and fleece money from investors and the government. Tell me...what was the last major oil discovery that COP made? What a pathetic joke...but a privileged few are making a lot of money from this charade called on oil company.
You are human. You are supposed to feel something.
It’s ok.
Just take it in real good this time, learn from it and don’t bend over next time. We all have gotten it real good one way or another in this lifetime.
You will live.
It is OK to worry! What is happening is not fun, even for those who are safe.
But the truth is, that layoffs are happening more and more often in the O&G industry, and if anyone of us can’t or don’t want to handle this stress, we should probably change industry without waiting to get let go!
Wish you the best
I'm hoping to be laid off ASAP, but guess we will see how it plays out. It will be nice to get some clarity in the next week or so. At this point, I think a lot of folks are frustrated by the lack of transparency.
I hope I don’t get slammed for this, but I was working as a geologist in West Texas when the 1986 downturn happened. Not only was my job gone, but my profession was nearly gone. Many geologists, as Anonymous mentioned, were working as teachers or other lower-paying jobs just to make ends meet and feed their families. How you proceed depends on your age.
I was 29 in March 1986 when I was laid off. Tired of layoffs, I decided to forget about O&G and try something else in a completely different location. I moved to Arizona, reinvented myself as a government hydrologist and made a nice career out of it. After 26 years of consistent employment I retired at age 56 in 2013 with a nice pension then worked as a consultant in the water/environmental field until last year when I retired. I’m 64 now and I would take the same road again in a heartbeat. Our house is paid off (my wife also has a state pension), we have medical insurance through the state, and we don’t have a care in the world. It’s hard to imagine that I would have done as well if I had remained in O&G with its periodic steep downturns. I’m not saying my approach would work for everyone, but it worked for me. Just something to think about if you're still young.
Nobody is surprised or upset by the up down cycles of the industry. What’s so infuriating is COP’s bogus parading of SPIRIT values and pretend caring about employees well being. If they just admitted we’re expendable, replaceable, and they don’t care at all about us aside from being simply employees, we’d all be a lot happier.
I don’t have any problem with the realities of the oil and gas industry. Layoffs are a part of the business. I would respect management a hell of a lot more if they just owned up to this rather than wasting their breath and company dollars over fancy D&I initiatives
I agree...big downturns are all part of the industry. If you are old enough to have been around during the 80's oil bust, you could pick up a foreclosure house in Houston for about $30,000 to $40,000. Geologists and engineers were working as car salesmen and teachers. It's a tough pill to shallow, but that's how O&G rolls.
Companies don’t care about people, they care about money. How’s that SPIRIT value now? What a waste of slogans, smoke and mirrors
Did you never watch the news? Do any research on the industry before applying? I can’t tell you how many layoffs, reorganization’s, acquisitions, divestitures, down sizing, right sizing, etc that I have been a part of. Oil and gas is not known for job security at any company or level. Best get out and never look back cupcake!
Agree with every bit of this post. For as much lip service that D&I receives from upper management - it sure goes out the window when convenient.