How many has this been since 2013? Seems like they just cannot figure out the "right size" organization you hear them say every time they have a layoff.
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@1bjk, Seems like you're bored with no life and are trolling a layoffs forum of the one company that you wish you still worked at, posting on different threads. Pretty easy read.
1) There is no right size that lasts forever; economic conditions change all of the time.
2) I started work at ARCO in 1981, in their synfuels division. Oil prices were great. First big layoff came in April, 1982, when ARCO decided to eliminate their synfuels division. 3 years of relative quiet. Oil prices crashed in 1985; first big layoff. Layoffs continued in 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1991. I got zapped finally in 1992. During that ten year period, ARCO went from 50,000+ employees to about 18,000. Everyone who has been in the industry for some time has gone through layoffs, and will continue to do so.
3) As a consequence, be sure to build your name outside of Chevron and if possible, outside of the oil industry. While working for ARCO, I published papers but more importantly became known in the high-level nuclear waste repository siting business through joint ARCO national lab cooperative projects, and in advanced stochastic modeling; hence I had several job offers at national labs, private industry and even two other oil companies when I was laid off in 1991.
4) On balance, it was the best thing that ever happened to me, because I ended up doing much more of what interested me, and living in a place that I like far more than Texas. I possibly didn't earn as much money (although my $125k purchase of company stock was cashed in for about $900k when I retired two years ago softens that blow somewhat...), but I don't for a moment regret not being chained to a job I found boring, in a place that I disliked, just for money and benefits.
For those that make it through this one. Keep your CDP and GO-400-2 updated. You’ll be ahead of the game for next year’s layoff.
Be the best at your job and you don’t need to worry. No one can predict the future (despite whatever the economic forecasters may want you to believe), so cover the low-side outcome and make yourself more desirable to keep than the person next to you. If that’s not enough for them, then you will no doubt be better off somewhere else and get a fat handshake to move on.
It's a big wake-up call for those of us still new in this racket. I started fresh out of school in 2014 and it's been, basically, a downhill ride ever since. The career equivalent of buying at the top. Had to do a lot of soul searching since then, because as previous posters have said, this IS part of the industry and you either have to embrace it or find something else. Otherwise you'll be unduly stressed your entire career.
The real question is do these frequent layoffs actually help the bottom line or are they just an exercise to make managers feel like they are doing something for investors. Every lay-off costs a great deal in lost staff productivity and workforce knowledge continuity that might outstrip any short term salary savings.
Chevron had layoffs in 1986, 1988, 1990, 1994, 2001 in chevron. But remember other industries have layoffs when their big contracts are completed, ie fluor, bechtel, service companies, aerospace industries, etc.
When oil prices are low there will always be layoffs. In a cyclic commodity there will always be low prices. Therefore there will always be layoffs in our career.
This is my fifth layoff in 5 years.
2015: the pre-ESP for anyone with a 2- or 3
2016: ESP
2018: SJV Project Transformation
2019: AMBU divestiture
2020: whatever this one is called
It’s been hard to get any momentum in a position with so many changes.
A contracting oil industry. A term with 2 meanings.
1st a smaller industry.
2nd as just enacted against a field's employees in Australia a workplace where most of the workers are CONTRACTORS. After the company got rid of its EOI's it they told the rest they were going to be made redundant but if they wanted to stay they could apply for a contracting No of CONTRACTOR jobs.
SO all those people worrying about what PSG will be attached to their next job, well it may not have a PSG at all. Know what I mean.
Welcome to the oil industry. Now, the contracting oil industry. More layoffs, bigger numbers. Decide if you really want to be in this industry.
True we lay off every 5 years.
The big issue is we start hiring 6 months after the lay-off and continue to hire for the next 4 years we then pause hiring for 6 months while we figure out the layoff. Then it repeats again
Oh dear the world isn't perfect for you.
If you ask the question to anyone that has been around in the last forty years, layoffs commonly occur approximately every five years. I don't understand why so many people are surprised. Tax time comes every April. You can expect the same cycle with layoffs.