Thread regarding Southwestern Energy Co. layoffs

If you did it would more than likely be a short ride to the bankruptcy or the acquisition of what use to be a great company. Who knows working for the future owners may be better.

"If you were in a toxic situation, you should have left on your own. But saying no to returning when the alternative is far less appealing is just outside the scope of rational thought......"

Judgmental much? Everyone's situation is different. To most outsiders, women who stay in abusive relationships are stupid, or "outside the scope of rational thought." It's a balancing act. You weigh options. What are the trade-offs? What am I most afraid of -- staying or going? Battered spouses ask themselves where will I live? How will I take care of my kids? The fear factor is very much in play when considering the devil you know versus the one you don't.

To a current or former SWN employee, it's somewhat the same. Food on the table and a roof over your head are vital, and if working at or returning to SWN is the only way to achieve that, the answer is easy. But again, the devil you know often keeps us stuck in ruts we'd be better off out of. Layoffs make those choices for us. If, however, you didn't enjoy your time at SWN, felt undervalued, underutilized, and unappreciated and can't wrap your head around ongoing poor management that is in control of your work life and livelihood, then maybe employment elsewhere, even if that means a lower salary and fewer benefits, will be better for you in the long run. Best wishes to everyone going through these hard choices, and may you find support from your loved ones for whatever choice you make.

I'm not bitter.

I've been in the industry long enough to know these things will happen. Oil and gas is based on risk taking. It is supposed to be a weighted risk, but sometimes you get it wrong. SWN got it wrong when the over paid for the CHK acquisition at a time when pricing showed no promise of stability. But eventually, I think it will pay out and be very profitable for the company. It just that because of price instability, plus overextended debt (they are certainly upside down at today's stock price to debt) budgets have dried up, and without budgets, you can't afford to keep staff the same size. So many of us got caught up in the downsizing.

Now, its easy to be pissed and its easy to say No, because we both know that SWN is NOT going to call anyone up and offer them their job back. The exception is if people begin to leave and SWN needs to fill those voluntarily vacated positions.

If you were in a toxic situation, you should have left on your own. But saying no to returning when the alternative is far less appealing is just outside the scope of rational thought......

No

...or maybe it's rational bitterness.

I'm not believing someone saying that would take a lower value unemployment benefit than a higher paying position at SWN where you can continue to build your experience.

You may say its toxic, and it may actually be for some, but if it is toxic, you put up with it before and looking for a position at another company can be done equally as easy while employed and drawing pay/benefits, as it is when you are only drawing a fraction in unemployment (which is good only for 6 mo.) and having to pay for your COBRA benefits (which is only good for 18 months).

Besides, it is far easier to get a good job that pays well when the are already actively employed.

Sounds like irrational bitterness......

Never, they don't value real hard working employees & it certainly not the company I was hired to work at years ago. Even if they did give me an opportunity to return I would never go back period, they did not know my worth then why would I take the chance again?! I would rather stay on unemployment and look for another less toxic environment, you can't put a price on freedom.

Just like a non-fatal heart attack is nature's way of telling you to change your lifestyle, getting cut from a job forces you to reassess your situation and ask yourself hard questions. Was this job really a good fit for my abilities and experience? Is having a paycheck and benefits my top priority no matter what this job may be doing to my health and sanity? For some people, this is a golden opportunity to do something somewhere else.

Still trying to understand why not going back to SWN would "not be in your best interest".

If your job was not cut and you found yourself one of the lucky ones not laid off, would you voluntarily leave SWN without a new job waiting for you because working at SWN was no longer in your best interest?

So, who in their right mind wouldn't elect to return to SWN, collect a paycheck and benefits, which is more than most are able to say today, while looking for another opportunity that would be in your better interest?

That's why it appears to be cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Now, if you have plenty of income and benefits, then enjoy your time off while looking. But I can tell you that I currently have the worst job in the world, and that is the job of looking for employment.....

It's not "cutting off your nose to spite your face" if you've carefully assessed the current situation at SWN and your own circumstances and decided that returning would not be in your best interest. And a few people definitely have been called back as management figured out that the severe cuts in the ranks of employees who actually did the work (versus the top-heavy number of senior managers still in place) left some gaping holes in staffing.

yep - nothing else out there right now in the industry.

I guess some of you would simply cut off your nose to spite your face. Either that, or you just don't need money or benefits. Why would someone not accept an opportunity to receive a paycheck and benefits while looking for a more suitable company to work for?

As far as people coming back or interviewing to come back, well, I continue to remain skeptical. I'm not doubting it may be happening, but I am highly skeptical. I had lunch with colleagues who are still there and they were unaware of anyone coming back, but at the same time, until 3/22, they didn't know all who were laid off.

Going a step further, all of those laid off were technically still employed until 3/22, and per the documents provided in the separation folio, individuals could be asked to come back during the 60 day WARN period. Maybe that has happened. Also, keep in mind that now that bonuses have been distributed, there is a greater chance that individuals may leave voluntarily to join a company they feel provides more stability. If that happens, then certainly I can see some former employees being recalled.

Maybe as a contractor. But, never again as an employee.

No!

Being laid off and then called back in doesn't speak very highly of management's plan being very well thought out to begin with.

No, I would not return unless totally desperate, which I am not. Management did me wrong...all the way up to senior and executive VP's. My stress level also dropped considerably once I was out.

I was called a week ago for an interview. However, I turned it down. Although I enjoyed my time at SWN, I would not return with the current environment.

I enjoyed my time at SWN and grew a lot professionally during my time there. Certainly I would go back.

For the person that said several had come back and others were interviewing, count me as a skeptic. Please provide some type of evidence that SWN is hiring in any capacity. I suppose it would be possible if someone left after the layoff and a position required being filled, but otherwise, I find it very hard to believe.

Not judging anyone who goes back -- everyone's circumstances are different -- but I never realized how toxic the situation had become until I was forced out of it and felt ... RELIEF! Although it would be tempting to instantly replace lost income and benefits, I hope I would remember there's always free cheese in a mousetrap and say no.

several people have come back...and others are interviewing to come back, in different positions however

Sure- why not? For those that say no - trust me- I've been around a long time and SWN was better than 90% of what's out there. If you land one of the 10% that's better great, but you're much more likely to land something worse.

No, my blood pressure dropped significantly after I left.

Absolutely not! I hate to say this but I am a male..I have no way of sleeping to the top with chauvinist vice presidents. I have more equitable opportunities at another company.