Thread regarding Noble Energy Inc. layoffs

Both Good and Bad...

There's a lot of negative on this site. I, along with many others, experienced the slaughter on Tuesday.

I want to say that while the way this layoff was handled was horrible, the company did do right by us in the severance package.

The Bad: No real information was given reulting in terror in the hallways. There was no indication how deep the cuts would be. And no one even officially told us the day it would happen. We are professionals and understand that our product doesn't sell at the price it used to sell. We could have handled some general info. It would have helped us deal with the degree of cuts on the day.

Also, it seems that mid levels had little to no say in who stayed and who went. A few very undeserving people got to stay, and that's sad for the company.

Oh, and the escort from the building seems like overkill.

The Good: We received a generous severance, including a pro-rated bonus for the year. I know that I wasn't expecting a bonus at all this year. They didn't have to do that and had a bunch of reasons they could have used to justify a smaller severance.

The other good is bittersweet and ironic. I have never felt closer to my team than on the day we all lost our jobs. In any office, there are a lot of people who don't really click with each other, but who really likes Everyone in their family? That was the best "team building" exercise we ever had. I almost wish we could interview at a new company as a group. Wouldn't that be a catalyst? We would be a ready built team that already knows each other's strengths and weaknesses, and how to work together.

Good Luck to everyone. We will all do just fine.

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| 1281 views | | 20 replies (last November 26, 2015) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+EqgLE1z

20 replies (most recent on top)

Without a contract the company can reduce your pay, your job grade, your hours, and your benefits. And, as we've seen, they can also terminate your employment. The fact that the company can do any of that does not make it right.

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Post ID: @eXWa+EqgLE1z

Pension was not taken away but cashed out, and now you have control of it instead of the company you distrust so much. They could have ended the retiree insurance without paying a thing. They didn't have to pay nearly as much severance as they did, and people who quit don't deserve severance pay. I'm sick of this entitlement attitude.

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Post ID: @6CzD+EqgLE1z

Which paperwork? The actual severance policy original or new back dated one or the power point presentation?

This company takes away benefits from employees all the time. First the pension, then the retirement insurance, what will be next.

I'm glad someone has the balls to stand up for their rights.

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Post ID: @5EWp+EqgLE1z

Not all of the people in the lawsuit were offered jobs in Houston.

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Post ID: @5UeC+EqgLE1z

True, but at least they had a choice. They received the paperwork spelling out the conditions and still chose to leave before their job ended. Some chose to keep their job and move to Houston. Others chose not to move and worked until their expected "end-date". Not saying it was handled well by HR! The last round was excruciating for everyone.

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Post ID: @5qk4+EqgLE1z

The Ardmore employees were not marched out the door like criminals, but no other group was required to continue working for severance. A good HR department would not have allowed certain statements that were made by HR employees about the nature of the payments being offered. And, a good HR department with good legal counsel could have structured payments as retention bonuses and this could have been communicated consistently to Ardmore employees. But, Noble has what has to be the worst HR department in America. I worked and got my payment before finding another job. Noble owes me nothing but it should pay these people their money.

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Post ID: @4CDt+EqgLE1z

I agree. If they left before the transition was complete and their severance was dependent on them staying then Noble does not owe them anything!

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Post ID: @40lo+EqgLE1z

Seriously these people were some of the first to leave and immediately started badmouthing the company. They were paid well for the time they were employed and left of their own free will. Nobody owes them a thing.

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Post ID: @2jbP+EqgLE1z

Severance was dependent on the employees staying through the transition. I don't know about the Colorado employees, but the people on the Oklahoma case left before that happened. Good for them, they were able to find good jobs elsewhere. Why should they be rewarded for leaving while others held up their end of the bargain and stayed til the bitter end?

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Post ID: @2sou+EqgLE1z

Severance was dependent on the employees staying through the transition. I don't know about the Colorado employees, but the people on the Oklahoma case left before that happened. Good for them, they were able to find good jobs elsewhere. Why should they be rewarded for leaving while others held up their end of the bargain and stayed til the bitter end?

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Post ID: @2TnK+EqgLE1z

Classy post. I wish you luck in your future endeavors.

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Post ID: @ifC+EqgLE1z

Good luck to those who have got severance pay, my husband has worked on contract for this company for years, given loyal service, worked long hours and has been praised for being one of the most knowledgeable in his field, yet the management have let him go. How short sighted to lose all that experience and now as a family we are broken hearted, telling our children and grandchildren that Christmas is cancelled this year. Be warned, management who break promises to their employees will lose all their best people in time and anybody with any integrity will steer clear from a company who are not transparent

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Post ID: @gpi+EqgLE1z

I agree with you 100%. It is not all bad and the severance package was generous. I was cut on Tuesday as well. Frankly, I have absolutely no animosity towards anyone. However, I can honestly say that the logic for who goes and who stays is baffling. Like every other company in corporate America, there will be the politicking, the backstabbing and squabble for that tiny slice of the pie. I should have played the game more and worked less so the blame really lies on me. I loved that company and wish them well.

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Post ID: @RTp+EqgLE1z

Was not able to find much about this. Why did they not pay these people?

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Post ID: @pRx+EqgLE1z

here are two cases from Noble's last RIF:

https://dockets.justia.com/docket/oklahoma/okedce/6:2015cv00323/24508

https://dockets.justia.com/docket/colorado/codce/1:2015cv00833/155439

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Post ID: @TY4+EqgLE1z

Noble denied severance benefits to some employees after promissing them. The case is in Federal Court.

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Post ID: @hhe+EqgLE1z

Lawsuit? Explain?

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Post ID: @Xsa+EqgLE1z

Finally someone who was just honest and straight forward.

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Post ID: @JrP+EqgLE1z

Don't get excited about your severance pay until the money is in the bank!!! There is a pending lawsuit from former employees who did not receive theirs.

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Post ID: @UDo+EqgLE1z

Amen

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Post ID: @KJ1+EqgLE1z

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