Thread regarding Schlumberger Ltd. layoffs

Will people be recalled when things get better

Looking for some serious insight from SLB folks. HR told me that iam re-hire eligible. I was laid off this week. I was a Mech Eng making close to 100K and a 20% target bonus. I always felt the oilfield paid better than other people out there. DO you think SLB will hire me back at the same pay or they might hire a college kid and make him work through the ranks?

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| 3321 views | | 22 replies (last May 4, 2016) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+Hafyphd

22 replies (most recent on top)

The more than likely route will be that you don't get called back. Even when companies start hiring again, which won't be anytime soon just in case you feel like waiting a year or so, general practice will be to ease back into it financially. This will mean bringing in someone with less experience so that the company doesn't have to compensate as high. The upturn will be very gradual so this would give the individual time to grow into the role and energy companies will know this. Chin up tho, you're educated with good experience. Like has been said already, always progress forward. Something better will come along....always does.

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Post ID: @4mbf+Hafyphd

If you find another Job and they dont pay you as good as SLB and if SLB calls you back with a better pay, why not?

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Post ID: @4khq+Hafyphd

It is very difficult present day to go to work for a company & believe that you'll make it to retirement (30 yrs). I have been laid off twice in the Oil Industry and as I sit here @ 40 yrs old, I've concluded making a long career with any Oil Company is damn near impossible. I've studied the old guys very closely, which there are few of them, ones that had 30+, and I cannot figure out how they made other than one thing

they sucked their Mgrs harder than everyone else. There you go, want to make a career in the Oil Ind., buy some knee pads and learn to suck hard.

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Post ID: @4pax+Hafyphd

No you won't be recalled. Paal and HR are going to roll out The Blueprint Part II which will guide SLB in an environment with no employees or staff. There will be about 20 training modules about it on The Hub that everyone will have to watch before they are subsequently let go.

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Post ID: @4lmn+Hafyphd

Don't go back. Move forward always. I was a NAM Mgr and retired before the crash, spent all my time in Ops. There is a great deal of truth to the 'ranking' . Everyone is ranked weeks before each layoff. It does not matter what your SLP3 states. The worst part of it, the rankings are not normalized across Geomarkets. All that talent and knowledge is now gone from SLB, so the personnel mgrs just roll up the results to the VPs and the list becomes activated on earnings and how much headcount has to be delivered (Cut) executed once the orders come down.

It is pure business. When there is no ROS the only thing is cost.

Mr. Kibsgaard is going to make earnings.

Move on to another company. The oil industry is cyclic in nature and this this will happen more. These downturns happen every 5-7 years. The last one was 2008. The one before that was 2003ish. There will be another after this recovery.

Besides the downturns, SLB cleans house every year and reduces the bottom 10%. It is extremely rare for anyone to retire with them.

Regardless what they state.

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Post ID: @4czz+Hafyphd

They are learning to get rid of seniority because they don't typically follow the absurd instructions of their managers, and instead, do the right thing for long term business. Managers now are working purely for objectives regardless of what it damages for long term business. They don't want someone that thinks, just someone who does what they're told. By getting rid of people that know how the business works, they can't taint the young people that don't know any better.

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Post ID: @2nnm+Hafyphd

it's a pity to think one's best option is to go back to the same place that got rid of you, would they think you have no other option avail?

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Post ID: @2qhu+Hafyphd

Go to work for Baker Hughes.

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Post ID: @2owo+Hafyphd

At our location, our once full "Quarter Century Wall" is now all but blank. Even if you do get hired back is that what you want, spend 25+ years at a company and get laid off due to certain future downturns? There's greener pastures out there to have to worry about such things.

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Post ID: @2cjl+Hafyphd

Just all depends if the same Mgr is still there. If they liked you when they laid you off I suspect they would hire you back if you wanted to. All Oil Industry jobs pay well, but the BS is very thick and 90% of Mgr have a hard on for someone because they believe their super important.

Every employee is graded by SLP3's which in my opinion is rigged and it still holds to favorites within dept. Back in Jan when being evaluated, my Mgr said I needed to work on communication. I was blew away, done my own survey with people I worked with and none never once said I needed to work on communication. I met this Mgr one time, how can this be I thought? I told this guy I wanted to visit about this in more detail. He avoided my request. And 2 months later I was let go. System is rigged...if you don't want to get a bad grade, I suggest sucking you Mgr off better than his wife does.

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Post ID: @2ipb+Hafyphd

Why go back? SLB is the Lowest paying company in it class. The issue is that everyone is brainwashed into thinking they are paid the best.

I left the product center in 2011 (re-hireable) and through a couple of strategic moves increased my salary 65%. I was surprised to find out there is a whole population of less qualified people making more money than most SLB people in the same industry.

Drawback: SLB is laid back environment and relatively well managed company (not lying) but not worth the missed opportunity. If you are comfortable with dis function and incompetence of other companies and want to build something there is mega opportunity.

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Post ID: @2jhu+Hafyphd

Perhaps it was a bit harsh but it's still true. Prior to each layoff, management is asked to grade everyone in their departments. The ones graded lowest, usually the last one or two, are the ones to go. OP you seem like a good person and I wasn't trying to be rude but still I repeat, do you really want to be that person that people are snickering about and have to live in fear of every layoff moving forward, more so than everyone else?? You seem like a smart individual. Take your experience and your mind. Find a company that will respect your talents. Leave this experience behind you and keep it there. Brighter times are ahead.

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Post ID: @2nel+Hafyphd

Why would anybody want to come back unless they're desperate? Times will get better, sure, but then they'll get bad again someday and the same ol' routine all over again. I, for one, am done with O&G.

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Post ID: @2hbk+Hafyphd

14 years with SLB and I never saw a one Laid off come back. Maybe they never tried?

I have seen several who quit and returned.

Good luck OP...Lay off times suck but usually all gets better.

I enjoyed my time at SLB however I had much better prior and since. I had opportunity to associate with some top level good type of people...The old timers that is and a few of the younger/newer.

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Post ID: @1jip+Hafyphd

RUDE Anonymous. And, WRONG.

OP lasted through three massive rounds of layoffs affecting tens of thoudandths of workers. Great going, OP. Although not guaranteed when you surely are on a rehire list. Keep it simple. Be happy.

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Post ID: @1lnb+Hafyphd

Move on. They found you to be the weak link in your area as per the grading scale given to department management. Or you could just be that person that comes crawling back and everyone knows will be gone again at the next downturn. Save your dignity and find bigger and better.

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Post ID: @1ynf+Hafyphd

I reckon you will be called back when things get better, I am keeping in contact with the good people who have been released and as a manager they will be the first people i phone when i need someone.

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Post ID: @1ryr+Hafyphd

Why would you want to go back and work for them. Move on to bigger and better things.

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Post ID: @eko+Hafyphd

It depends in which round were you shown the door

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Post ID: @yrq+Hafyphd

Move on. If they call you can make a decision then.

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Post ID: @xdc+Hafyphd

I hope you can get your job back, however, do look for another job and work until / if that day comes… you may find that other industries treat their folks better and less stress… it could be a few years before companies start hiring…

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Post ID: @xjj+Hafyphd

It depends. If your manager clicked the "eligible for rehire" checkbox.

Don't lose hope. Stay in touch with those that left. I saw 2 people already get their jobs back.

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Post ID: @imk+Hafyphd

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