Like many of you I was NSI'd. I had no prior warnings, everything was swell until that meeting. Many of you can attest to this, but I jumped through a lot of hoops to even work for XOM. After all, this is a position/status of a lifetime right? My experience was like many others I've read.. filled with pressure, abuse, and a constant feeling of worthlessness. I know deep down that I'm competent. Every other place I've worked at has praised me.. so why am I an outcast here? Maybe it's because I defended my own person and didn't join an ERG. Maybe its because I challenged the systems and bureaucracy knowing there's a better way. Idk what it was. I showed up and did what was expected of me. Since this, I've not been able to sell my house or find a new job, my wife left me, and I made an attempt at my life. I'm stable now. But I have been diagnosed PTSD because of this whole ordeal.. This is just a PSA for anyone who thinks this company is normal.
32 replies (most recent on top)
@2gls+17ngA5sc I agree with you. Nobody in the chain of command gives a $#!t about your safety. I know a co-worker that became $u!c!d@L after being NSI'd. She is a single parent and was not comfortable in May sending her kids to daycare during Covid. The supervisor kept pointing to some "program" the company has set up to help her find a daycare. She had to raise her voice to say "You are not hearing me. The issue is I do not want my kids in daycare and I do not want to return to the office for safety reasons. So I am requesting to WFH for the short-term." Not only was her request denied, but it was followed up with an email from her supervisor (G0d knows who was BCC'd) saying she was insubordinate for doing this. A few weeks later, she is told she is NSI for not being a teamplayer. Absolutely no empathy or sympathy. Heartless b@$+@rds
This highlights how totally fake the obsession with safety really is at EM. The company has no problem ruining your health for life, as long as it doesn’t show up on safety stats and cut the management bonuses. Anxiety, depression, divorce and heart attacks no problem. Slips and paper cuts Oh No!
@1kcu+17ngA5sc - that's exactly what happened to me. Consistent "Good" performer in the past, great feedback on accomplishments in early May, feedback from 12 KO's (all very positive and appreciative, no negatives), NSI'd in July.
@OP - I made the same mistake as you (and you WILL get through this, my friend). I believed I was employed to do my highly skilled, specialized, technical job to the best of my ability - which included helping others, working 12 hour days in the office, working at home in the evenings and some weekends. Didn't want to waste time in unproductive meetings, joining ERG's or participating in social events outside work. If I wasn't actively working in my office before 6:30 am or after 7 pm, then my view was that I should be at home with my family.
Questioned my new (from 2019) supervisor's orders (they were orders - he didn't want a discussion) when I believed they were wrong or ill-advised. He didn't like this, even though he should have known that I knew more than him and had 20+ years' more experience. Despite the fact that our relationship was deteriorating, he simply could not fault my work and my accomplishments. However, the new ranking system and the order "8-10% NSI" gave him the freedom to drop me in the rankings and the perfect opportunity to get rid of me.
I am mid-50's with 30+ years' service, but I can't yet afford to retire (especially with the massive discount that would be applied to my pension). Nevertheless, I took the PIL and Retirement option because (i) I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of watching me squirm to pass the impassable PIP, and (ii) because I had finally had enough of the place (EMRE CSR), the brainwashed, ineffective managers (who call themselves "leaders") and the BS that we have to endure every day.
I am one of those PIPd in July and have not found another job yet. When I got PIP'd, I became s–c-dal at that time and planned my exit from this world. You see, I felt like I've reached the pinnacle of my success in life, great pay and relocated to a beautiful luxury house near the Spring campus. I really did not see this train wreck coming. Fast forward a few weeks after, I am still alive and struggling to get interviews. My life is still at stand-still and just thankful I keep going on.
I am sorry that you are going through this. Hang in there. You are not yet able to see the amazing doors that have just opened for you.
@1reg+17ngA5sc The Stasi is quite a good analogy. The only difference being that EM management never fails to remind the employees that if you don't like it here, you can leave.
Good PSA OP, you’ve weathered a lot in a short period of time. Stay strong and stay in close touch with your friends and family who love and support you. Good reminder to us all to do the same. Tough times like these reveal who are genuinely in your corner, treasure these people always.
@1gnk+17ngA5sc - they are mutually exclusive. We move in with our lives but let the class action lawsuit run its course.
Majority of lawers out of Houston will tell you it's a waste of time to attempt a lawsuit. Move on with your life.
@1klv+17ngA5sc - I am not OP but intrigued by your post. Are you saying there is a class action lawsuit being built against XOM for the fake PIPs?
@1qbt+17ngA5sc - I survived the PIP. I think I hit a raw nerve with you. “Only following orders” applied back then and applies now.
If the hat fits, wear it!
Know your sense of loss, my friend.
Try to lighten up and get things back together.
I suspect that it will not be long before an advocate (based in Texas) will obtain a full list of those affected by this 'performance-based' reduction by the Company.
In other words:
Expect you might hear from a lawer (sic) from Texas. Even if you are based in New Jersey, Baton Rouge, anywhere. Even Calgary.
That list is already made with your name on it.
Only takes a single named person to obtain the full PPT of names.
Whether your PiPd or PiLd, respond to the advocate from Texas.
If his interests are your interests - on the same humble hunt.
Comparing exxonmobil to nazi Germany? I sure hope your dumb a$$ got the PIP.
The fact is that the supervisor knew of the 8% NSI change when they had the pre-assessment discussion with the employee. Supervisors knew that this means they need to pick at least 1 or 2 of their staff to be laid off. Telling an employee they are picking for NSI in April/May that they did a good job and have excellent KOF comments. And then communicating in July that they are NSI. This is what is unethical. It might be legal. But it is misleading and unethical.
@1kmd+17ngA5sc - that’s exactly what the lieutenants and captains in the Nazi German army said: “they were only following orders”.
XOM managers and supervisors don’t get a free pass. They should have the backbone to to stand up if unethical actions are being taken. If they just followed orders, they are complicit in this fake PIP charade.
Most likely those people had little say in all of this. Corporate guidance from Dallas was 8%. They were just following orders from above. Blame DW for the state of the company.
OP - I empathize with you. Although I was not PIP’d, I know of colleagues who totally did not deserve it but got PIP’d. This whole fake PIP exercise has caused a lot of stress for a number of employees. Shame on XOM. I used to be proud of this company but no more.
I know karma will get back to XOM managers/supervisors for throwing hardworking employees under the bus.
OP here. My wife leaving was unrelated to working at XOM, or getting NSI'd/taking PIL. It was actually a mutual separation that was several months in the making. The timing of everything happening at once was just too much for me to handle at that point in time. I have legitimately been given a PTSD diagnosis by a psychiatrist. The company should have been more transparent.. they could have handled this a lot better. Sitting me down and telling me how much of a poor employee I am is very low. I was very much doing everything that was expected of me. Everyone I worked with was genuinely shocked when I told them I was put in the NSI bucket. I worked at the BMT sites for a few years without any prior concerns regarding my performance.. BMRF, BMCP, and BPEP.. just for reference.
PTSD is a real thing! Workman’s Comp agreed with me and those nasty bullies in Risk Management tried to fight it. Shame on you! You weren’t there!! HR polished their story but, what you didn’t know was that there was a witness! I spent 10 days in the hospital and was unable to sleep for months. ExxonMobil is a very toxic environment. The good old boy mentality is finally going down!!
Please hang in tight there and do not worry about your wife nor ExxonMobil. I was abandoned by 2 women and now I am with a nice, stable loving wife. The first 2 were selfish and their leaving was because of their problems not mine. But when a wife leaves the husband can blame himself. This is common response but ever since my 2 wife failures I read and learnt a lot about psychology. Some people get bored and are the leaving kind. They need a new spouse after 3 years. Some people are unstable. Some narcissistic. Don't blame yourself. Be happy she left you because she would have left anyway later - and then the longer you are married the more you have to lose both in terms of money and emotions.
Second - I worked at 4 companies before joining Mobil in 1997. Mobil culture was fantastic. Exxon and ExxonMobil culture is the worst and more toxic than nuclear waste. The ranking system is totally insane. You did nothing wrong to deserve the NSI. Not to worry, forget the past and move on. When you think of ExxonMobil or your wife make a conscious effort to think of something you like - may be your last nicest vacation, a beautiful beach or the mountains. Change the channel from ExxonMobil or your wife to something you like just like you flip a channel that you are not interested in watching on TV. After a few months of this exercise, you will have forgotten your selfish, narcissistic wife and the toxic ExxonMobil people and culture.
I got abandoned by 2 women, I was devastated. But it is now long forgotten. I am now with a wonderful caring women that I know will never leave me and in fact will support and help me even more in time of need. Be positive, meet other nice women, I know many who met a wonderful spouse on Match/Eharmony. Stay optimistic, stay positive, if you do not find the right person for a while, it is OK, finding a bad spouse is worse than being alone! Take your time and make sure you are looking for all small signs of selfishness and character. Take 1-2 years to enter into marriage no less than a year. Within a year, all the initial lovey dovey stuff can be momentarily be gone and you may be able to see through the true character.
We are entering an amazing era for engineers and scientists. You will find a job. Have your resume everywhere - monster, aiche, geebo, etc etc - there are many job websites. I got NSIed in July, I immediately contacted all my friends in industry and I had a job offer in 2 weeks and in the process I got 3 months ExxonMobil pay and so I have double pay for 2.5 months. During interviews, sound positive, have an upbeat voice, sound and appear driven and strong.
What your wife did and what ExxonMobil did to you is a reflection of them, not you. You have a great future ahead. Make sure you do not look bad. Make sure you obliterate the thoughts of your wife and ExxonMobil. I do not want you to think of wife/ExxonMobil again and if you do think of a beautiful vacation.
Forget, forgive and move on. There is no value in looking back, there is no value in getting angry - you will hurt only yourself, not wife nor ExxonMobil.
Don't try to sue ExxonMobil or anyone - in my opinion this is negative energy. Life is short. Spend the time instead smelling the roses and watching the red cardinals or a nice movie. Attorneys are scumbags and they will prolong and drag the case and at the end of it you may never get a dime.
Good luck my friend, you will do well. Follow my steps above and I can promise you will find a wonderful job and a wonderful wife. Both happened to me!! But you cannot be impatient! Finding a new good suitable job may take 1 day or 1 year, finding a good wife may take 1 day or 5 years. No one can predict, but it will happen. In the meantime enjoy the journey. I met a lot of wonderful women during the dating process. Though it did not work out until I met the right woman, I learnt a lot and the journey looking back was fun.
Life is al about the journey not the endpoint. When the goal/endpoint is reached, the human mind needs a new goal, a new challenge.
Enjoy!
This is what the hubris of our leadership has done to our loyal employees. When you work in an isolated office in las colinas with your chauffeur (literally ask anyone about the MC) you lose touch with your business, your people, and reality. The ivory tower thinks they can move numbers on a spreadsheet and a valuable business will just appear. Run. This place is run by a mad king.
I am surprised people are taking shots at OP. I was PIP’d and can relate to what the OP is saying. The way XOM handled it has a lot do with this stress and negativity. Many NSI folks were told they were good performers and then surprised with a NSI simply because XOM wanted to protect their reputation as “no layoffs”. Bu that unethical approach has had a big mental impact on people who were fake PIP’d.
XOM should have been honest - called it a lay-off instead of masking it as a PIP. It would have been much less stressful to impacted employees.
I think what and how xom did what they did is wrong but if you are a great worker you should have no problem landing a role. I was nsi'd and I had multiple offers. Also my spouse and I are closer than ever.
I think the problem you are going through is no xom fault. Sounds like you have some loose ends you need to fix. I wish you the best!
@uos+17ngA5sc seems like not much to the wife that left them though.
I had a coworker who was let go in 2015. His wife left him shortly thereafter. I believe OP. Please remember you are worth more than what some company thinks of you.
Those last two comments are just cold. Seriously, get a heart. If you work at EM, you two are part of the problem. Maybe the wife is shallow and only with him because he had a decent job. Maybe she has no morals and left him for someone making more money. We don't know these people. You call bs on the "story," but I can assure you there are people from EM going through that right now. If you don't have anything nice or encouraging to say, why don't you just be quiet. "If I only had a heart..."
Maybe not BS. but definety not the whole story. If wife leaves OP after getting let GO from company, then OP must have had many issues prior to this.
I’m calling BS on the OP.
I took the PIL option, so I can't sue.I don't know that I'd even have a case.
Leave! That place is no good for you anyway. Once you’re PIP, you will stay at the bottom ranking for awhile.
@OP+17ngA5sc
Stay strong, life is not worth to dwell with the unethical company. It could be a blessing a disguise though it is a challenging times now to secure a job.
Let’s explore how we can work this together as a voice to let a broader public informed behaviour of this company is not only unacceptable but disgusting.
Please continue to stay strong, there is a better place out there waiting to welcome you!
Very sorry to hear that.
If you happen to have documentary evidence for the issues mentioned and how unfair the company has been to us , putting pressure leading to areas and anxiety... and ultimately mental health with consequence in your life ... I would say please see a lawyer and file a claim ... the company should be stoped to have such treatment to it’s own employees... sadly people are just a number in imperialism and corporate environment we have ( p.s I am not advocating socialism but definitely imperialism has its own flaws... some system like in canada or Northern Europe seems to be more balanced )
It’s shameful
Stay strong bro... life continues one way or another and it’s a very precious gift from God to us ...