Thread regarding 3M layoffs

They paid plant engineering overtime to go around resetting time and changing batteries in clocks twice a year at the main campus. The clocks were given away from a “free” box at the distribution center.

@b3 Yep- saved $30K a year ( supposedly ) by removing all clocks from the lobbys and office areas.

@aj
They grow on faces.

@jc
Sad part there was someone got ki-led the same way a year or so before that.

@jc That’s the pattern though — 3M always seems to be reactive rather than proactive. PFAS, the earplug litigation, and situations like this all follow the same script: issues are ignored for years until something serious happens or lawyers get involved.

Then suddenly there’s a wave of messaging about safety culture and “Journey to Zero.”

If the company put the same focus into identifying and fixing real risks early — equipment, maintenance, chemicals and processes — instead of waiting for lawsuits and headlines, employees and customers would be a lot better protected.

Too often it feels like problems only get attention once they become a liability rather than when they’re still preventable.

@hp journey to Zero was always a joke but became a sad joke when the woman at PDC was crushed in a machine and Tireman ranted and yelled at employees for not working safely. The woman wasn't the problem. Poorly maintained and obsolete machinery led to that. Tireman turned red in the face saying spending money for safety wasn't necessary. Good riddance to that jackal.

Believe it or not, there is discussion using the term "human OEE" thats being introduced from the ESC VP session

They are out to squeeze any last drop of juice

We don't do any work whatsoever.

Everything we do is about cost cutting. We reduce services, we scale back activities, we onboard consultants and pretend that they can take the place of someone with ten years of experience.

There's no moving forward.

@b3 Journey to Zero in action: removing clock batteries because step stools are “dangerous” and reminding adults to hold the handrail on the stairs.

Meanwhile the business is under-resourced in areas that actually impact customers.

The money and energy poured into this kind of theatre is staggering. Sometimes it feels like the whole place has turned into a circus.

The beard thing has been around some of the areas in the soon to be gone Decatur plant for a while for us poor houly simple folks. Clean shaven as well. I have seen them walked to the gate for not being clean shaven for the day. Only 3M hourly employees. Construction / supervison / mangement are exempt.

@dj
They were doing the annual "art" inventory. They go thru and make sure 3M's precious artwork is still where it should be. Allegedly someone was p*$$ed because Solventum either took or thru out some paintings. What next?

@ac
Last weekend JLL went thru to look for "illegal" clocks. Looks like they found some. Hope they paid them premium pay!

@ad That is what the ScotchGloomTM film is for. From the lab corridors it looks like it is gloomy outside / cloudy / rainy etc. so you keep working and don't go home.

@ac Black Belt project years ago determined it was too dangerous to be up on a step stool swapping out batteries in a clock. Therefore, they were taken out. (Recently let go last month).

Many yrs ago there was a plant that relished controlling people. A nasty process chemical started being used and every male at the facility was made to shave their beards, including any visitors.

What's this about beards?

There are no clocks in a casino... maybe going to work at 3M is not much different than being at a casino..... something to really think about

Ok, fill me in. On campus they got rid of the clocks years ago. What changed recently? (I'm newly laid off btw)

what work? coming up with a new fashion designer color for a post it note and calling it a new product introduction? metrics metrics metrics

the beatings will continue until morale improves

Buck up or leave. We have no need for any more whining. Get back to work.