Good post from @W9bGVbO-qgw, well worth the read:
I have been both a contractor and employee and there is no job security on either. The only difference is you have a severance package if you are an employee but it is not a lot if you are only with the company for few years. If you survive the cuts, you have to be really good at making your manager or director look good. Since I started I was told that everyone is replacable and disposable and that is what stuck on my mind all these years. While it is true, I hope it also applies more often to directors and up and not only to ordinary workers. One wrong email or gesture to your management and it might end your career or whatever you call your work at ENB. Some days you can’t help but feel small and useless. Realistically, you can’t really do anything with all the reorgs and cuts because this is business and it supposed to generate money and management mandate is to make whatever is possible to save the bottom line. It is especially hard for merger or acquisitions because one combined company cannot simply sustain the manpower. While many had already left on their own and many are just waiting to be packaged out, the messaging from the top doesn’t change, that is - you are replacable and they can always hire a better fit, probably for a less amount of money. If you are expecting to be valued or at least respected, I don’t think this is the right place for you. Employment is always at will and you can leave anytime you want but companies are more succesful if they care about their workforce. The oil price is low and a lot of other things within the economy that makes the industry even more tough but management shouldn’t make it even more harder by making the people feel that you are but a disposable tool. It is easy to talk like you own your subordinates if you are on a higher position and some workers will say anything to please the management so they can survive. If you are still with ENB and you feel like you are drowning, you have to tap into your support system outside work like your family and friends. Distract yourself by exercising or doing some other meaningful activities outside work. Start looking for work somewhere too. Take care of yourself, you only have one life.