I wish I could be as confident as some of my coworkers who are not worried at all about potential layoffs. They think they are safe. They have years with the company, experience, knowledge...and they believe that makes them untouchable. I have the same and yet here I am, worrying myself sick.
I wish I could believe that those things make us safe, but I highly doubt it.
What is a Chevroid?
I Disagree with most in this forum. I have left Chevron about 3 years ago. Voluntarily, as I received a good job offer elsewhere. I have missed the company everyday. It seems technical skills, commitment and atmosphere are in a different league compared to what’s out there.
Sure, these are though times. I went through a couple of these reorgs during my CVX days, but noticed that cuts were typically not that deep and virtually everyone who wanted to stick around, did so. Afterwards, the atmosphere was usually great, with opportunities a-plenty.
@1bhy, It's clear from your post that "Freedom" as you put it is not only completely out of your reach but also beyond your comprehension.
Your main loyalty lies on you and your family, Chevron is just a place for you to work as you are just a resource for them to use. That massive panic that you see is driven by the need to belong to a cult of people that after a while forget who they are. Move on dude, leaving may be a blessing in disguise.
Fhuk’em. Chevron isn’t wasting time thinking about you. Don’t waste time thinking about them. It is what it is. If you’re laid off, you’ll be employed again and it will be a tremendous opportunity to shed that chevron baggage and take a new path somewhere else. In some ways, you might be quite happier and have a higher quality of life after Chevron. Those that are left behind will be trudging through one hell of a death march in 2021. If corona resurges, we’re phucked. If Biden wins, we’re phucked. If we acquire a company, we play musical chairs again to the tune of “your phucked”. Your bonus will be a crusty white west Texas t–d and you’ll have to memorize the executive summary of whatever b—s— self help book that the Execs latch onto next. Freedom could be yours.
Some of your “confident, arrogant, unworried coworkers” have just been through so many layoffs they just don’t care anymore. I have been booted twice in my 30 years and both times was back in the saddle in under a year. Life does go on!
I’ve known many people let go during downturns and can honestly say for most of them in the long term it’s worked out well for them. Some retired and enjoyed the change in pace of life. Others found new employment, new careers and they did well. I think many people believe they have a career when in reality all they are is stuck in a rut and being let go gives them the boot in the rear end they need to get on in life.
Some solid advice from people ....well done to those below
I wish my manager would wall himself from the rest of us. Instead we get to waste hours every week on pointless "check in" meetings.
I have heard of a few managers/executives who have let the stress of the combination of our industry downturn and the pandemic get to them. They have either retired/EOI or walled themselves off from their employees.
Now is the time for our managers/leaders to "step up" and lead us through the difficult times we face. It bothers me that there is this "void" in which managers don't lead
You must adjust how you are processing and filtering the current situation into a better thought process for your own health. Stop the overly negative thinking. If you have faith in a higher power then focus on that. Regardless of outcomes you will always have your health, family, friends, job skills, education, etc. Suggest talking with a local counselor (via video). Yes, this is stressful times, but work to keep your thoughts under control. A year from now you will be on a good path that will have a lot of good things for you and your family as long as you have healthy filters to recognize the good things whether with chevron our somewhere else. Good Luck.
Self confidence is a major factor of success in life and in business. If you don’t have confidence in yourself, it’s something everyone can see or sense. You need to get over your lack of self worth and find reasons to know you possess many traits that are equal or better than others. If anything, firmly know that nobody can be you. That’s a start. Pick yourself up, lose the fear and don’t imitate others. Be yourself with confidence.
No one is immune. In past Chevron layoffs I have seen people like that let go. In fact, sometime I think the company should let some people go and they end up keeping them. It feels like a c-apshoot.
Just start thinking about your life and what you want to do and start thinking about a backup plan. (Just in case). You’ll be okay. Sometimes layoffs end up being a blessing.
In 2006 I lived in Michigan, and worked in the auto industry. I was young, making good money and enjoying life. I just bought my first house. I had a pretty good outlook on life.
I don’t know how old you are so I don’t know if you remember this but at that time there was a slump in the auto industry. Similar to the oil industry today. All the sudden things were unstable. The Automakers were asking the government for bailouts. It got scary.
Toward the end of my workday the day my boss called me into his office. I went in and when I went in he was in there with HR. I immediately knew what was going to happen. I was let go and they had security walk me to the door like a criminal. I was devastated! I had a young family, a house I just bought and a wife who didn’t work but stayed home with my young kids. Things were compounded by the fact that there were layoffs everywhere in the whole region and jobs were slim with extra competition.
I freshened up my resume and started applying for everything under the Sun. It was scary and I had a lot of people counting on me.
Less than a month later I had a new job in a new State, making much more money than I was making in my previous job. The culture of the new company was much better fit than my old job and I loved it! Had I not been laid off I would not have even been looking for other jobs. It was a blessing in disguise.
I’m sure your a capable person. The fact that you work for Chevron now says that. Some Trolls here might argue with me, but if you work for Chevron your a reasonably bright person. They don’t hire complete losers here.
You might stay and you might go. You’ll be okay one way or the other. Your co-workers are ignorant. Just start making contingency Plans now. Just in case.
MW and all the Transformation leaders are safe for at least 3 years. Everyone else is trying to hang in there and kissing a– on workplace as you can see.
Some of your confident, arrogant, unworried coworkers will be laid off. I hope you are there to see it.