Thread regarding ConocoPhillips layoffs

It is guaranteed that compensation will fall to manufacturing norms. Staying for the money is not a sustainable long term strategy.

Where else you going to go? It is too easy in oil and gas.

Manufacturing? Tech? Pulp paper? Pay s---s and culture is just as bad if not worse.

operators and engineers are not valued in most other industries the way they are put on a pedestal in oil and gas...

In a word: NO

I like the comment several posts below: they're giving you lot's of cash with one hand, but what are they taking from you with the other hand? Your fire. Your passion. Your human decency and desire to have an impact. Your SOUL. Your health, at least longer term. Not worth it.

I was in the same boat as you. I went to COP thinking this would be a great place to work and to retire from and thought they wanted me there because I had worked at some independents and they needed some of this perspective. But I ran into the same things. No one wanted to do anything differently, if you tried to push things you were a disruptive employee and if you didn't s--- axx you were not invited to participate. So it slowly s---ing the life out of me and I was able to get the package last round - but I didn't EOI, I just simply stated to my boss I didn't have much to do and I felt I wasn't adding anything there - reason was similar to what you all said in that you liked the money so why not collect it. But this will slowly stamp out your fire for other things as well eventually.....at least it did for me. And seeing such an ugly side to people under a little bit of stress made me start to lose faith in people and had me thinking everyone is a self centered ahole. Fortunately I got out, am working for myself building a business and putting in lots of time doing it. But funny thing is I run into people I haven't seen in a while and I keep hearing the same things like "man you are aging backwards" or "you look 10-15 years younger" (I'm 48). This even comes from people I don't know who think I'm mid 30s at the oldest. I'm not bragging about it (although it feels good), but I think it validates that being somewhere you are not happy takes a very big toll on a person. Life is just too damn short to do this.

Well said qlm- good money doesn't necessarily equate to a good job

I used to think it was ...the only reason I am here is to make money so I kept telling myself over the years "I can do this if the price is right" " I can do that if the moneys right" in reality I was selling my soul. So after the 4th consecutive round of layoffs in SJBU I stopped talking a big game and decided I will at least just look around at other jobs and as I applied and got calls back for interviews this weird weight I didn't realize I was carrying was lifted off my shoulders it was like duh its not the only place in the world to work...my self value came back and out of the halfass attempt I was making to find other work I scored a job and one I love the money is definitely not the same but my sense of purpose and dignity came flooding in and I realized I didn't miss the money. In all honesty I thought I would but I don't. Point of the story is you can sit and brag about the easy money they give you with one hand but are you actually paying attention to what they are taking with the other?

Agree with other posters, easy pay is nothing to complain about but good folks can only tolerate non-impactful work for so long before they leave for something where their input is valued and acted upon. So, even if good folks do stay around, they are (or will be) the minority.... doesn't sound like a fun future to me.

Anybody have line of sight on some big "shake up" coming that might fix this?!?

I'm hoping asset sales will come with some big management and staff changes across the company, but I've hoped that every layoff round and here we are... you can s**t in one hand and hope in the other and see which fills first, I think that's how the saying goes. I'll give COP until end of the summer to demonstrate some significant change is coming before I officially leave for greener pastures. One more chance RL, please grow a pair and make something happen!

... (no one actually wants to change, they just want you to study options to validate their opinions). The poor performers turn out "work" (pretty slides) and tell everyone how great they are without adding any value.

This is so spot on. Management knows these people aren't adding value and have no original contribution or thoughts to add. Just dust off the studies that were performed last year, take a few new screen captures, stick your name on it, and say "look what I did." Then s--- up and repeat the boss' ideas, never challenging it or thinking for yourself. Just a group of blind people leading blind people, and everyone's purpose is to collect a paycheck and keep their position inorder to repeat the cycle. Easy pay or not, I have to feel I'm having an impact, and in this place, if you're not playing the game described above you're not heard.

I absolutely agree with the exception that there are a handful of people who are sticking it out for geological family reasons

If you are young I would market my skills elsewhere. If you have 15+ years here you may want to stick it out. Your assessment is accurate.

No it's not worth it. My suggestion to early career engineers (with degree other than petroleum) is to try finding something outside in either other company or better yet other industry. Staying here is sure way of not getting any promotion for 10 more years. If you are really talented you can progress faster at other companies. If you work in corporate or other not needed staff don't worry this management will protect you even if it means selling assets.

Are you making more than 100K to sit around on your butt and book meetings. Maybe turn a valve once in a while or sit there and pretend you are busy adding company value?

It is the easiest high paid job you will ever have!!!

Sadly, I see it exactly the same way. Won't be sticking around, myself. No retention bonus will keep me when WTI climbs a bit.