I am new and joined 3 months ago. I am a fresh grad engineer and came to exxon for experience and to learn. Every other employee treats me like an outcast and does not interact with me. I have tried to talk to these people and they just ignore me or say they are too busy to be bothered. I am learning nothing from my time here at exxon. I was put on the United way committee and tasked with bugging employees to complete their contributions. I was told that there were groups or clicks at the site In am at. I reminds me of the caste system in india. I am like a untouchable dalit caste indian at this place. I was warned by an older employee that is ready to retire about the toxic culture and dysfunction. Everything he told me has happened to me. He also told me about this layoff site and I have learned a lot. If I had read these post before I joined I would not have come. I am hoping to last at least a year but want to leave right now. I feel that I will be nsied or piped because I am not doing any real engineering work. I have been nice to everyone I have met but no one has reciprocated the niceness. So now I just avoid all these je-ks and sit in my office and hide out. I find it easier to avoid them then interact a feel stupid by talking to them. There is definitely a huge toxicity problem and behavioral problem at exxon.
24 replies (most recent on top)
its a horrible place you all su-k
Toxic a-hole
Yeah most of us just show up and hide out. We come in and do our time. The money is good but the environment is so toxic. It is not worth the mental anguish. I know several employees that are out on mental health right now. If you are not part of a group or gang you are going to be piped.
Rhetorical query: is it really so hard for people to show up to a mediocre office job and collect a paycheck?
I’m really sorry that you’re having a hard time adjusting to life after college. I’ve been at EM 7 years and to be honest, most of the people have been decent. Find a good mentor that can help you adjust. Good luck!
If everyone is not liking you then it is probably ypu not them that is the cause.
A--hole at work to get by, survive, maybe get ahead enough to get a raise someday.
Quite a nice person outside work. Volunteering, helping neighbors, hanging with real friends.
I think most employees become scared and toxic. It is the competitive environment that breeds this. If you are nice you will fail. So I think you turn into a unfriendly a hole. I only know a few employees that were trustworthy and honest. I am sure that the original new hire will close themselves in and be less outgoing. Toxicity and dysfunction breed the same. It is a vicious cycle of backstabbing, gossip, stealing ideas, sabotage and just plain f u ching over each other. Excon and the managers allow it to continue. I think they like us at each others throats. It us like a gladiator game to them. I once worked with a manager that purposely put rivals together to see them fight. It us a sick place and once you leave you will see the true horror of exxon.
Both.
Perhaps you are in a group with people older than you? I started at a time where there were a lot more new hires. Around 20-30 my age. Became very good friends with many of them. Went to weddings, birthdays, baby showers, etc. 90% have now left the company, but still close to them and the ones that remained. Also have never had issues becoming good friends with other teammates as I’ve been hear for 10 or so years. But they are usually somewhat close to me in age.
Are you social outside of work? Is your team full of older people with kids?
@bf They befriend you to identify your weaknesses and we-ponize those against you to rank above you. A workplace friend would reveal personal discussion to our common manager to get ahead. I once fed him non-factual information and it soon echoed back from the manager. Offcourse both made a fool of themselves as I clearly denied having ever said that. Don't trust your colleauges and make friends at work.
The fact that you were put on united way tells your supervisor values you and is providing you opportunities to meet people outside your swimming lane, as well as exposure to senior management
@bf yep that is right! Eveyone secretly hope you fail and intentionally say things to get you down.
@ah You just made their point for them.
@op, I am a toxic a hole field employee according to my peers, but I do what I’m supposed to do and go home. I feel this way sometimes myself, but the funny thing is I wasn’t like this before joining EM. You may be on to something, my friend.
@OP That’s O&G for you. Especially in Houston.
The idea is the less that’s invested in you, the more likely you are to be laid off instead of them.
My advice is to change industries. Go back to school if you have to. It’s bad elsewhere, but not this bad.
Best of luck to you.
I'd say about 92%. The other 8% are cool (I'm in the 8% group).
@bf exactly, but it does mean to be a c@@nt!
Find people who came over from other companies, most of us are still normal.
Not bs it happened to me many years ago. I was labeled a low performer and sabotaged by my peers friends not. I did not leave and lingered. I am now piped at 46 years of age and have to try to pass to get to 55. It su-ks to have the 15 years of service but not the age to retire. They are really putting the sc--ws to me to pass this pip. I should have left within the first months at exxon but now I am stuck.
I've learned over my 40 years in working that you should never make friends at work.
OP. This is classic behavior at ExxonMobil. I guess your position and or school is a bit less than the typical MPT new hire, or at least perceived that way for some reason. You are being put in your place by the pack. If things don't change, learn what you can for a year or two, take the experience and move on.
Welcome to the club.
It’s a very cold place to work. If you must stick it out, just disassociate yourself from the job. Leave your heart at home and your passion for things you enjoy. This is a transaction. Don’t expect friendships. In the end, they will all disappoint or betray you.
Its you. But thanks to the information you habe shared, we know who you are….