While I understand that the near future in Aerospace has a dim outlook and Honeywell is doing what they can to try to recover, working here the last few months has become unbearable. While my department didn’t seem to be hit with RIFs as bad as others (I think ISC was slaughtered), losing the people we did, and then combine that with increased work since PMO/GBE leadership has been handing down funding cuts and trying to micromanage milestones by making us add a ton (because MM reviews them weekly and didn’t think we had enough supposedly), and politics, and I’ve become so stressed at work that I don’t know how long i can continue. No OT, and feeling like timesheets are micromanaged doesn’t help either. I love my team and my manager, but this is my first job out of college and I feel burnt out after just one year. After this week, seeing the email from MM telling us we were going on 3 weeks furlough, then another one two days ago saying JK, it’s just one! Then yesterday an email from HR telling me that I go on furlough starting next week - i.e. 1 day notice and it’s the most critical week of the month for me to get deadlines in. It just seems nuts and feels like leadership is making rash decisions at the last minute with no thought put into it, apart from how to cover themselves legally.
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Long time reader, first time poster.
You took the words right out of my mouth OP. This is also my first job out of college. I've been at this company for a few more years than OP. Every single year (except for 2019, I think) there was either a furlough or RIF or pay-freeze or a combination of all of the above.
I kept saying to myself that the market was down and everybody else in this industry was having the same tough time. That was true to some extent, I think? I've kept in contact with some of my peers in other Aerospace companies, they have had furloughs and RIFs, but not nearly as severe or frequent as Honeywell's.
Fast forward to this year, the demand for our products hasn't really been affected by COVID, thankfully. However, that hasn't translated into our site being unaffected by cost-cutting measures.
Enough is enough, I'm looking for a way out. I feel terrible leaving my team and the programs that I work on. I put so much effort and take so much pride in my work. But the company has been hurting itself and its ability to make money with the actions of its leadership. Why should I care if the company doesn't care?
Running a "high tech" company quarter-to-quarter while products, programs and R&D investments have multi-year cycle times is just not feasible.
It's really tough leaving, but I think that's the most solid long term strategy for my career. It's usually the older, higher performing and more experienced employees affected by these cust-cutting measures. Some day I will be in their shoes, and don't want my financial stability to be linked to anything other than the performance of my work.
Good luck to everyone!
Seriously, if you are looking to jump ship try Raytheon Missile Systems down in Tucson. When I interviewed with them in February they were still hiring 200+ per month and, since it’s all defense work, little COVID impact. Great company culture too with great benefits package! Many great ex-Honeywell people down there too...
Network and find another company. I worked for the original Honeywell which was an amazing company. Allied Signal bought the Honeywell name but dumped the culture. It has been so good to be gone. My marriage survived my very long hours and unrealistic mgmt deadlines. You have a new world to explore. Hang on, when things open up your skills and experience will be your strength to a better company.
It’s a total cash grab till the fat lady sings and she’s on stage now. Working level people will never get ahead again in the swamp. The cards are stacked for the upside down triangle. After furloughs, the department was left with 3 employees and 2 managers.... need I say more?
Plan your exit....Take a step down in pay and title to get in the door somewhere good where you can work your way up through old fashioned hard work.
Left Honeywell in the middle of January. I feel like I won the lottery. Covid-19 crippled the airline industry and no one predicted it. In any case, it was not a fun place to work.
The ground started to shake with the people starting to run from Honeywell after the 3 weeks of furlough was announced so they needed to reduce it to one week. They’re short on cash so they needed the employee cash infusion ASAP. There will be more last minute furloughs and layoffs in Q3. They need these to all be surprise actions to ship product and make milestones.
Tier 1 Aerospace companies are letting employees furlough 1 day per week. Less painful. Of course our illustrious mgmt don't not care about employees.
One day notice for layoffs reinforces the "hip shoot" mentality of the ALT. There is no well thought out tactical plan for working through the COVID problems other than slashing headcount, benefits, and using furloughs. If it were ONLY because of COVID, then I'd say wait it out. However, Aero has been displaying this rudderless decision making for the past 6 years. Since this is your first job out of college, you won't be penalized by other companies if you jump ship now. Network, use LinkedIn, and any other tools you can (e.g. if your university has an alumni or other organization, professional organization, etc.) , and get out.
It's a very sad world we are living in now. Covid 19 pretty much f—ing everything up. Now it's a matter of survival at Honeywell and just about everywhere else. All I can say is try to stay strong and healthy.
Leadership definitely puts thought into their decisions. There is manslaughter and there is murder. Do not think for a second this was not carefully premeditated. This is a long term strategy accelerated by crisis not haphazard reactions.
They talk about and applaud the opportunistic money grabs for masks etc. Quick pull that manufacturing back from China! Then join the ranks of the Amazon scammers charging government prices for 1 cent PPE. They skip over the restructuring that has been planned for a decade.
Reputation is the real currency today. Get online and comment on every product and every job site. Say nothing but the truth. Honeywell shut down us productions of masks in 2015. Don’t ask me to applaud when you are just reversing a bad decision.
SSDD (same shxx, different day) at HW
I say hang in there and work on your Honeywell exit plan by networking. That way you will be in a good position to interview and leave when the economy recovers.
I was with Honeywell for 10+ years and made the incorrect assumption that all companies treat their employees the same way. I was wrong. I believe the way in which Honeywell chooses to furlough, lay people off etc is not normal. Best of luck to you!!!
If you got 40+ years to go at HON, you will see ~18 layoffs and ~25 furloughs in the remainder of your career. Not to mention the benefit situation. Can you really play the game and continue to dodge the bullet that many times for that long? Think your moving up in pay over time... nope... your just a easier layoff target. Personally, I lasted a decade plus, but EVENTUALLY my ticket came up. Best of luck to you.
RUN FOREST RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate to say this, but get used to it. Play the game as best you can whilst seeing all the unfair practices around you. Be strong young grasshoppa, or you will be eaten. Also, try not to hold grudges for what the company does to you as you continue your challenging journey. Do not take the frustration home with you and let if destroy yourself and family. There was a list going around many moons ago that listed all the benefits and perks that have been stripped away. Very eye opening. I’m sure it is much longer now. Good luck and heed advice.
I dont think I'm at your level of management, but us on the floor had the worst day we've ever had. We had 20+ year employees walked out. People were crying.