I got PIPed after 24 years with ExxonMobil, used to have top 10%, always top 33% ratings during my 30s and 40s. Then after 50s, I began to give new ideas and disagree technically with my bosses, I was trying to be more innovative and more leading edge. Got PIPed, chopped, left immediately and found new job. I found my younger peers with far less experience got good job transfers and now are at the new GCGV project in Corpus Christi. They chopped me even though I had great reviews and great track record. As you get in 50s, you become a target. ExxonMobil favors the young. Experience, wisdom and technical leadership have little value. Brown nosing, agreeing with bosses, lack of experience but yes-man attitude gets you far. So glad I am out and with a new company.
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I assume this is common practice across the corporate world and some are worse than other eg EM. This is one of the reasons people want to leave corporate.
What you say is true. They see the young as an investment. Older people just cost more. It’s not right, but that’s what this world is.
Young people think it would t happen to them but their day of reckoning will arrive.
This post also applies to me, very similar, and I totally agree with your comments OP. No worries, the young ones today will eventually grow old and there's that likelihood that they will end up in the same boat as we are now, if they are not careful. So to the young ones who are still reading this, is it really worth it to stick around? You will eventually grow old.
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Ha ha
I'm far from well off.
I was hired in at age 17. No college.
But yes I'm fortunate to have been employed for that many years.
If you got 40.5 years, you’re extremely well off now. Stop complaining.
It’s the same here in the Far East. I agree with the comment that ‘we’ need to be “Yes” man when we were young, fresh into the working world and trying to “impress”. It is also for job security. There are very few bosses who likes to have subordinates who frequently “challenges” or speak out too aggressively. We are all human, after all.
So let’s not blame the young employees. When we are financially independent after many years into working life, we tend to be more ‘brave’. We should encourage each other rather than ‘attack’ each other.
Take care and stay safe.
When you were young they did the same thing you just didn’t care because you were on the winning end of it.
It call comes down to accounting shortsightedness. The money saved today is what Wall Street looks at. Never what it will cost in the long run when everything starts to breakdown and no one knows how to fix it. It's amazing that one experienced engineer or professional can do the job of 3 others, but they decide to keep the 3 others because they think ti would be cheaper.
They have dove this before and they will contract you back at absurd rates to train them once the experience is gone.
Young people are cheaper. The mistakes are expensive.
I agree as well. After 50 lower ranking then s—y long inbetween LOW pay hikes.
And PIP is a set up to fail.
I said screw it and retired with 40.5 years of service end of 2018.
Fully agree with your evaluation.
All signs of a flailing old ox pulling a broken wagon full of its own manure.
Last time driven to market.