Thread regarding Pearson PLC layoffs

Look forward to you finding another job and taking your bad attitude and negativity elsewhere.

A once proud company, now just a house of sadness.

So I am now a "specialist". Now I only cover 4, 4 year schools. Did anyone think about how the speacialist would actually be able to grow their business? I am going to end up being a glorified customer service rep. There are hardly any opportunities for takeaways as these are already prodomenantly Pearson users in the major courses in my subject areas. I've got a handful of small, Did upper managerment really not look into this possibility!

Funny how all the posts about C.A. keep disappearing .....................

Worked at Pearson from 2006- 2014, and my ride was filled with many ups and downs. On the positive side, I got to work on many amazing projects, and worked with some great people. On the negative side, I preserved through horrible management, shortsighted and unethical decisions from leadership, and constant drama, politics and infighting between business units and functional areas across the business.

Happily landed at a competitor where I’ve been treated amazingly well. What I can say about Pearson, is if you can survive and do well there, you can make it anywhere. My experience there humbled me, but also helped me build thick skin and the toughness to fight for resources and defend ideas, as well the 6th sense to know whether someone can be trusted. It’s sad that good people continue to be let go while many of those in leadership who created problem through and remain and thrive.

Our upper management is worthless. They stated the LTS group wasn’t even needed anymore. How clueless and disconnected are they from the field? It only would have took walking a day in the life of a rep or LTS to know that both roles had more on their plate that they could handle. BTS is going to be the worst yet and those people who are getting paid to throw darts are to blame. Worst reorg ever. And our numbers will prove it in 12 months when our customer have all but left us in the dust. Speed of trust?? Why didn’t you ask your RMs, DMs, focus group of reps for input. Oh yeah because you don’t trust anyone but yourself and you bad, misguided decisions.

Left 2 years ago. Best thing ever! Terrible company and culture. Not what it was in 2002 when I started.

Worked at Pearson for many years starting at AWL and then on through the PH merger. At one point I moved from the AW/BC side to the PH side so know both. AW was always the more rational side with PH really have a deeply entrenched boys club (PC, TB, ES, JG, etc). I have since moved on a competitor. All publishers have their problems, but it has been fascinating to get away from Pearson and watch the hubris slowly ruin it.

For those on here commenting about Cengage "poised to dominate"...yeah that's not going to happen. Cengage Unlimited is not innovative, and it won't forever change this industry. It's a straight rip of the Netflix model as a last gasp effort to stay relevant. Far more interesting things are being done by MHE and the 2nd tier publishers. And definitely watch the army of adaptive tech companies. But Cengage will be exactly where they were (or worse) 1-2 years after rolling out CU. You can set you clock by that.

"Speed of Trust" ... the Trojan Horse of Pearson.

SMH 🙄

It’s Pearson, so yeah...there will be another round. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but another layoff is always right around the corner.

Will there be another round or is this it? Ugh

I worked for Pearson since it was split AB/PH. I recently moved to a competitor and have never been happier. I too agree, you will soon realize your worth and see how toxic/stressful the Pearson life can be. I am making money, consistently hitting my sales goal, have 4X the support as a rep that I had before, and my work/life balance is healthy. For those who were laid off, trust me when I say there are better companies out there, and I promise you will look back and realize this was a blessing in disguise. Update your resume, reach out to colleagues at other companies, and you will find something.

My question is why was US HEd not on a hiring freeze the last 12 months? People that were hired last fall, moved their families to their territories out of state, were laid off yesterday.

JF announced there would be another round of 3000+ layoffs last year. So upper management KNEW there would be impact. If they had gone on a hiring freeze a lot of people would have been saved yesterday. I knew upper management didn't care about it's people, but this is on a whole other level. We should all be furious for ourselves and the people let go in this madness that apparently required zero strategic thought.

I was displaced in June 2015 as part of the LSC reorg and many others--for those who lost a job, just know it was the best thing that happened to me. Pearson is an an awful place with a bullying and good ole boy environment. I'm now at a smaller firm today with strong leadership and even have advanced in my career within a year. I won't spend time bashing the toxic culture or leadership but will give the following advice to those displaced--start networking with your contacts on Linked in immediately, update the resume, take advantage of the placement services, and apply for every job you are interested in. Get a routine going, clear the head, and have a focus each day of which jobs you covet and how you plan to follow up. S--- in your pride too-- nothing wrong with taking a step down in positions or pay. For me, in the long term it all paid off. I'm sure it will work all with you all. You're gonna learn that there are many good jobs out there that will value you and your experience.

Cheerleader or not, Pearson is just not a good company any more and those who are still there need to realize that sooner rather than later.

Yes, you're a Pearson cheerleader. Also love how you immediately resort to name calling. You have anger issues. You will fight for Pearson to the ends of the earth. I have news for you- they do not value you. You could easily be replaced and no one would miss a beat. That's not a personal jab, it's just the honest truth, since you are wanting to speak honestly. Notice how you are the only one on this board taking up for this company?

that's exactly right. The day ES took over (now gone but took far too long) he promoted all of his PH buddies, and this company TANKED. Which is why this week is happening. ES HATED AW, as his arch nemisis, KS at Cengage was legacy AW. ES actually TOLD reps how much he could not stand M&S, thought they were lazy and didn't work campus like PC and HSSL. Which is why M&S went to s**t the past 6 years. Notice there are no AW people running this company. ES was the biggest arrogant jerk ever. His "inner circle" and bullying mentality poisoned the culture at Pearson.

Cengage was in the tank in 2012 and look at them now. They had a major reorg a couple of years ago, the right way, and have realized "protecting the base" is just prolonging the inevitable. Society is CHANGING. So they were innovative and turned their ship 180 degress, said screw textbooks, we are going to sell ebooks even though they are 1/3 of the price. All while under mostly AW Pearson management.

They have been trimming the wrong way. Cengage has been doing it the right way and now they are on track to take over the industry. (Hate to say it). All of the strong upper management from Pearson has been over there for the last 5 years.

You nailed it on the old PH mentality comment. When the company was run well, all the AWBC/AWL people were in charge. They are almost all now at Cengage and we’re left with the old boy network. SMH

I smell quite a few lawsuits coming. Try to explain how someone who makes their number every year, is a leader in the organization, seniority, loyalty, is displaced over a buddy of the biased manager calling the shots from a thousand miles away. I have protected and spoke highly of this company for too long. You hurt your people you are so proud to speak publicly about investing in.

They threw darts. Reps & Managers & specialists who had significantly better performance over time were displaced. There was no explanation to how they made their decision. There was no algorithm. Geography, a map, a dart thrown. Old ideas coming from old PH mentality that will not work. It was a massacre. It was announced to be a thoughtful process. It was not.

So sorry that this continues to happen. I was laid off Spring 2017 after achieving goal 12 of 14 years. The company has become disrespectful and dishonest. The majority of you will look back in several months and feel better amd healthier than you have in years. JF amd KC, in particular, don’t know what they’re doing and the Board continues to allow it.

Cheerleader? Or just being honest? No one wants layoffs. No one agrees with this move. And no one wants to see good people suffer.

But when a spoiled brat with no perspective decides to wax poetic about corporate decisions while others ponder their futures and figure out how to pay their bills, it needs to be called out. Grow up.

I always love the person that comes on here saying how grateful we should all be to work here😂 pretty sure I know who this Pearson cheerleader is LOL.

I am 100% looking for a new job. We all knew this was coming. Is it sad, yes. Did people have plenty of time to get their resumes together and get a new job, yes. But that boils down to laziness for most. I know tons of people getting away working 10-2. Summers and December off. They didn’t want to leave their cush situation and now want to boo hoo about being let go.

Now that you’ve been kicked in the rear, you’ll find a new job and wonder why in the world you didn’t do it sooner. Trust me.

It's been a culture of cutting the workers since JF has taken over. Meanwhile, he's bonused a ton, extravagant NSMs and trips are still prevalent and the people who actually attempt to move the needle suffer. I legitimately felt bad for RB today. Probably the most genuine person in executive management dropping the hammer on behalf of a guy who had only been here for a year+ and a lame duck CEO with no heart.

To the people that were let go, all I can tell you is that you will look back on this as the best thing that ever happened to you. You’ll find something better (how could you not?) and then the only thing that will bring you down is thinking about the people that are still stuck working for that worthless company.

I too have been reduced to collateral damage. Single father of 2, very little severance to speak of, no visibility into what was coming, only that people would "be affected". 1/3 of my team was laid off, myself included. My direct supervisor was promoted, and those within the "buddy network" were retained ... some for roles "yet to be determined" (whatever that means). Thanks, Pearson. 🙄

There has to be nothing but better opportunities, anywhere but here.

There is too much fat in the middle and too many middle managers. They keep kicking the can down the road. “Leadership” there should be ashamed of themselves.

You still have a job? Consider yourself luckier than those who were let go this week. People with families, mortgages, responsibilities - all had their lives turned completely upside down. And you're complaining like a spoiled child. If you're so unhappy, leave. And let one of the people who were laid off today have your job. Or keep your ignorant mouth shut and do your job.

You forgot to add the "stategic parternships" group, oh and "channel partnerships"