Thread regarding ExxonMobil Corp. layoffs

I've known several people who regretted accepting an assignment in Midland. Your expenses go way up when you move there. Everything costs more. The company admitted as much when they implemented a cost of living adjustment. A third party study would easily confirm the cost of living is higher there than Houston. When you move to Midland your bills go up but you are paid the same as Houston so you end up with less money for savings, investing, and discretionary spending. More money going to pay for mortgage, insurance, property taxes, gas, water bill, natural gas bill, food, etc. etc. etc.

Sorry bozos, but you got the postings below tied together wrong. Not from the same people. See how easy it is to be wrong?

But go ahead and cry for the admin to save you. Pathetic.

I guess you guys hate a certain political party? Figures. Why not just let you guys decide who gets heard and who gets silenced?

You are the ones who should be banned for bringing politics into your posts.

And are you the same whiners complaining about how the EM culture is not inclusive? How your voices are not heard? Hypocrites.

So sad and weak. EM is in more trouble than I imagined.

Free speech. Respect different opinions. Honor personal experiences. Independence. Freedom. Have a little fun. Laugh at ones self. Welcome controversy. Don’t take things too seriously. Tongue in cheek. Overcome obstacles. Make it work. Thick skin. Survivor.

OR

Speech control. Forced compliance. Censorship. Lemmings. Fear. Hurt feelings. Hiding. Cowering. No sense of humor. Me. Only me and those who agree with me. Superiority. Need protection. Intolerance. Whining. Surrender.

Who do you want to help rebuild EM?

@1sht+17QtgFDP

Wish you well in whatever industry you moved into.

Major problems in the O&G industry are nothing new. Many survived $10/bbl oil in the '80s, layoff cycles every 4-5 years, never ending cost cutting measures and so on. It's always been a boom then bust cycle.

The big difference today is two-fold as I see it. First, EM went through a long stretch without hitting too many bumps, at least not severe enough to drastically impact the workforce. Those bumps used to be much bigger and come much more often, and everyone shared the pain back then. EM is long overdue for a major correction, and they are very poorly positioned for it.

Second, the workforce has completely changed since the last big downturn. I understand that it's not just O&G, it's changed everywhere. But folks under 40 or so at EM just aren't used to going through a bad time. It's been too good for too long.

I see crazy talk about wanting to throw shareholders in the dumpster, saying all of management needs to be fired and so on. Did these employees ever stop to think that their own parents and grandparents were likely shareholders either directly or indirectly? That dividends from EM or some other company probably put food on their table by building up daddy's savings or 401k?

The old rooster has come to sit for a while, and there will be misery. But, it isn't anything new. You just have to get through it.

@1wds+17QtgFDP

You are right and boy was I glad to get out of it. I still have a few friends hanging in there.

Geezers, can you imagine these millennials walking into that big corner office where the District Superintendents ruled 30-40 years ago? It didn't matter who you reported to, he was king and called the shots. Most of these old guys would have fallen out of their chairs laughing at most of the complaints and whining on these boards.

Folks, you have it good today, despite the downsizings and problems. It's the oil field. Be thankful, it is a lot better than it used to be. Small comfort, but true.

@1dpe+17QtgFDP

Had to be really lucky to get an assignment in Midland back in the day. Try buying and selling a house, getting medical care, even buying groceries in all of those little West Texas towns like Snyder, Post, Andrews, Hobbs, Coyanosa, and on and on.

That’s what us old geezers d–g our families through every 18 months or so. Yeah the geezers that are now considered worthless.

Midland is a palace compared to these places. As the poster says, tough but many of us lived it and survived. Lots of the whining on this board is from millennials who have no idea about the history of oil field life. It is too easy these days with fancy offices and high salaries. We have all become spoiled.

@1teb+17QtgFDP You cannot be serious.

If you haven't done a stint in Midland, you ain't oil field. Never was easy boys, but we all survived.

OP isn't saying people in Houston should get a cost of living adjustment. OP is saying that if you move from Houston to Midland you should be paid more because everything in Midland costs significantly more. That's the whole point of cost of living adjustments which are a very common practice in all industries.

Our company is falling on the "be glad you still have a job" line to justify everything including treating employees poorly.

I'm glad you found a solution that worked for you. Living in a 5th wheel at a trailer park wouldn't work for my situation (wife and young kids).

I disagree with OP. Midland/Odessa has nothing but the Rockhounds and High School Football for entertainment, but weekend trips to to Cloudcroft, etc are good. The office was better before moving out to Holiday Road with the Open Concept, where only degrees get offices, but it's a paycheck.
If one thinks that they can get an equally paying job in Houston within 3 months, say no. If not, move to Midland/Odessa, but do not buy unless you are willing to wait until WTI is $80 again to sell, which could be after retirement or a future layoff.
I did take it, hauled my 5th wheel out there and worked as if on an overseas assignment. Wife said she had preferred Port Moresby over Midland, but the continued income helped us get to the point where we found something better.
Sure, schools here and there wherever we went were bad, but children graduated from TAMU with honors due to our supplemental parental education.

why would you get a cost of living premium to houston?

Additionally, the stoves at the top of the food chain here in Midland are a bit loco. Avoid them at all costs

Biggest concern moving to Midland is getting let go while on assignment. Good luck selling your home & enjoy moving yourself to a location where jobs are available.

Will midland employees still work for Exxon when xto is sold off?

Definitely feels like a bait and switch. I still don't understand how they justify zero cost of living adjustment. If they are going to cut our salaries why not cut everyone's salaries? Why is Midland singled out when Houston isn't having any salary cuts?

Taking away what little premium there was is a great way to destroy morale even more. As stated above, cost of living has pretty much stayed the same in Midland for 90% of people there. I also don’t think the $$ savings for the company from doing this is anything major, especially given that the company plans to cut 30% of midland anyways.

I believe you meant the health insurance IS poor compared to Houston and is much more expensive.

You are correct. I have the email from management saying it was a cost of living adjustment. They sure cut it fast when oil prices fell!

New Mexico is even worse if you can believe it once you factor in the state income taxes which the company does nothing to help with.