Why not? Seen more drama and been laid more times than the Kardassians during my career.
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No way to replicate the success stories above. TODAY the opportunities are very limited. The pension will likely be eliminated (or more likely reduced gradually - like they did in the past). They already showed they will cut the 401K match to save their own exec bonuses.... And if you want a technical career - good luck there is zero chance of being a lifer for non-execs.
Yes, I WAS a lifer. Started my career in 1985 with Mobil and retired after 37 years. It is a different company than the one I hired on with, but I was always treated well, had challenging assignments and made this company literally tens of millions of dollars. Retired very comfortably with a combined 401K and pension lump sum just under $6M. Was it all worth it?? I'd say yes, but not sure if I could work 37 years for today's ExxonMobil.
Money money money and 55.
Please don’t judge me.
If you work for 30+ years for ExxonMobil and retire at age 59 1/2 so that you receive your 100% of the pension along with your matching 401K, you can maintain the same standard of living post retirement for the next 30+ years. That is why being a "lifer" pays off.
Unfortunately, the pension is the next expense that will be eliminated and we will move forward with a 401K only.
ExxonMobil is a CULT.
All of the systems OIMs, LPS have CULT traits.
Lifers are just followers, who will look back in retirement and be grateful they survived.
The rest of us have a noo$e around our neck and don't know when the floor will drop.
@1hhu, wow, apparently things have really changed a lot since I retired in 2016. Thanks for you thoughts.
A lot of posts talk about great careers and financial benefits of the past.
The real question is would you want to start over spend 20-30 years as a lifer today?
@1gsl+1jXejf4h It’s a different company now. The change that has happened in the culture and treatment of employees (in the groups I know @ Spring campus), over the past couple of years, has been astounding. Recognize it’s a business and driving shareholder value is important, but the “technically challenging” and “fun” and respected work environment of 5+ years ago is largely gone. Management’s lack of transparency, outsourcing, significant rank drops and PIP’s with absolutely no forewarning (2021) has created a culture of fear, distrust, and apathy.
My group, which was once a technical power house, has come to rely on consultants for everything. So much institutional knowledge has been lost and is not being replaced, people are rotated through so quickly - can barely get their heads around things, so instead churn and recreate wheels, before being put in a new role in 2-3 years with little to show for what they just did.
New employees / interns are not sticking around … we have lost virtually all of the young engineers that had been hired within the past 10 years. With the loss of technical knowledge from more experienced personnel, and seeing how EM treats their employees, they realize the future looks bleak and they need to get out. The ones still here that I know, are looking for the door.
Another big driver: most young people want to work for a company that is making a positive difference and not adversely impacting the environment. Taking on the world’s toughest energy problems shouldn’t be solely focused on O&G.
Non-US employee here, with 37 years under my belt with EM. A couple of more years to go before retiring without getting a discounted pension.
Esso was once a great company, well structured, well organised, with real internal technical skills. A lot of “red tape”, but there was one enough people to handle it efficiently, so that the employees in operational roles could concentrate on their job.
Today, basically, only the red tape remains... Jobs done by seasoned employees have been offshored to low-cost locations staffed with new, inexperienced employees who know sh:t and suffering a high turnover, technical skills are no longer valued, since some “managers” believe it's easier to hire them in the contractors market, when necessary. Cost-reduction seems to be the only real “strategy”, as if EM ambition were to become the Ryanair of the O&G industry.
Some will say that it's the new normal, and I'm just a grumpy old f*rt, but to me the new normal svcks. Will retire with good memories but no regrets.
Retired in FEB21 after nearly 40 years … had a great run did amazing work and associated with some of the smartest folks around. Was treated very well and enjoyed almost every day I was employed. Reading this board, I’m thinking it’s a different company now … or this board attracts whiners
People at all levels are leaving … sup, young exec, sme, technical …
If you can , leave
Else stay and play the game well
That’s all
Real question is: what percentage of those who started with the company (in the US) in the last 5 years will be still around in 20-30 years calling themselves lifers someday?
Yes lifer. 25 years. Im in home stretch now. I like my roles and people I work with (whole career in Chemicals). If I was unhappy or miserable I’d consider leaving. I am absolutely not coasting and still very productive.
Yes, I’m a lifer. The first 20 years were as great as they could have been considering the company culture. For the most part, hard work was rewarded and appreciated. The last few years have been a quick slide into a pit of cr-p brought on from bad corporate decisions and mismanagement.
Despite all the negatives, I’m retiring in 2023, financially comfortable and extremely grateful for all the great things working at XOM gave me.
I worked with incredibly talented people from all over the world and was paid very well while doing so. I met my husband there. I had my 3 children while working there and I made life long friends there.
Sadly, it was the horrible culture and deteriorating treatment of all the employees that made me decide to retire early and leave. I’m lucky I’ve been there long enough to be in a position to retire. I am fully aware of my fortunate position. It’s sad to see a once stable company determined to throw it all away so quickly and sloppily.
I wish all the best to those who remain and those who choose to leave.
The chicken tendies
Yes, 30+ years and counting. Great work assignments across many businesses but even better are the great folks I’ve worked with. Compensation and benefits aren’t too shabby either. Unfortunately the last few years resulted in some tough decisions by the company. Thanks for a great career and looking forward to retirement in the next few years
Post ID: @uun+1jXejf4h An emoji will do for you, 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
@toz+1jXejf4h Tough to read, but true. So many of the older folks in my group were RIP (retired in place). There is no way they could replicate their benefits and salary outside of EM for the little value they actually brought. They weren’t motivated to work harder and stay sharp because it didn’t matter! They’d have their consultants do all the heavy lifting, which was obvious when you’d get in a meeting with them and they couldn’t answer any questions!
Most of those folks are gone, but there are still a few around. It’s all smoke and mirrors the value they actually bring… just show up to the office everyday, look busy, and don’t complain about your hot desk.
As for me, I am very technically sharp, and knew what was going on. That got me PIP’d because despite the huge value I brought, I asked too many questions and challenged the BS I saw happening daily.
But because I had skills - I got OUT! 💨
I am. Started at 18 years old and just retired at 55.
In the 80s (and before) when you got hired at Exxon, you knew your whole life would be at least "ok" and likely much better.
I have worked with plenty of brilliant and wonderful people. Did interesting work.
There has been an accelerating decline the whole way though.
Have to say as a younger employee I’m pretty jealous of the folks here who had great opportunities on good projects, received good treatment and compensation, and had a good run with the company. If I were in their shoes I’d be pretty content and committed for life as well. Maybe it’s all about timing.
Wow, I am not sure what group you worked in but none of those types that you outlined would not have lasted a month in my EM offshore well/field construction team. The last 15 years of my EM career I was in the field setting EM subsea trees in deepwater (>2000 ft) using a heave compensated crane and two work class Oceaneering ROVs from the back of PSV/construction vessels (Maersk). From Nigeria (Erha) to Western Australia (Janz). Nearly everyone in my team were over 50, many in their 60’s, successfully executing project work.
I am sure glad none of your pals were close to me. Eerrr!! All these types need to be PIPed. Ha!
@OP Easy answer:
They can’t do any better.
There is no company in any industry that will pay them so much to do so little, especially at their age level. Very few have kept up with modern computer applications. Any competence they once had has been lost to years of lethargy and poor professional practices. For all of these reasons and more they’re not going anywhere.
From my perspective, the only reason to be a lifer is for the money and opportunity that comes from working with (former!) blue chip company. The salary and benefits are pretty good. If you do your job well, get lucky by having bosses that actually care about you and invest in your growth, it’s a great place to be. If you get a cr---y boss or two (unfortunately, there are a lot more of them especially these days) it is a different story and they will make your life a living he-l. The only reason to stay on, then, is if you have NO other options. Put your pride, ethics and morals aside and do whatever it takes to stay on their good side because once you drop in rankings, it’s nearly impossible to climb back up.
I would’ve been a lifer, had I not been NSI’d in 2021 after 22 years with the company. I’d seen just enough people not survive a PIP (one) to take the PIL and move my family the he-l out of Texas. My wife and I now live closer to family and have much better schools for our two kids. Sure, would have been nice to hold on for a few years to reach RE, but the PIL was a shock that woke us out of a trance. Although I was told I’d pass the PIP, it wasn’t worth the risk of what it’d do to our kids to stay another day in that Stepford Wives community of The Woodlands with overcrowded and hyper competitive schools. Sold our house HIGH bought a new place for a fraction of the price that is 1000x better and in a “real” community. So glad for the PIP, which seemed like the end of the world when it happened!
It’s been an interesting 21 years. Some were good, some not so good. I have met and worked for some great people. I have also worked for some complete mo--ns. I’m sure that would have been true no matter where I worked. Benefits have been great, money is decent. Now I can retire with good insurance and a 7 figure payday. I’m not complaining. It’s a completely different company now. It’s no longer a career, just a job. Most will never see retirement. Outsourcing is ruining this company. Cheaper is not better, it’s just cheaper.
Yes, I had a great career as an upstream engineer working month on - month off for +3 decades. Great salary and benefits, mega billion dollar international projects, retiring financially independent at the age of 65. The things I saw, the experiences I had, the places I’ve been with EM you could not buy. Yes , I had my fill of EM ‘culture’ and odd supervisors but I kept my head mostly down, lowered my voice and worked through it. Thanks EM, it was a great run. It will be with me for the rest of my life. I made it :)
Yes, but retirement in 2023. Was a great trip, especially the first 15yrs. Oddly enough the arrogance and ‘clubs’ were the worst in the last 15yrs. Seems we were blinded by our success, allowing power hungry folks who couldn’t deliver move upwards, and gave up on being a great team & a community of excellence. Sorry to see the change, and the tone deaf sound of management cheerleading. Thanks for a great ride and for the sake of all the great people & assets left I wish you all luck!
All sups are lifers. Obviously.
Yes. I had a fulfilling career and i will retire as a rich man in 2023. I could not have asked for more. Thank you ExxonMobil.
No