A company built on innovation cannot thrive without top talent. High turnover, burnout, and disengagement will erode creativity, slow new product pipelines, and weaken competitiveness—ultimately damaging long-term growth, reputation, and shareholder value.
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@11c HR is controlled by the CTOs, Group Presidents and Presidents. If these guys don’t want somebody HR is there to help out. HR in 3M is weird compared to other places that I have worked. Mmm
@vf FlimFlam's decisions have completely decimated my team. At this point I'm just treading water until my life is in the right place for me to bail for another company. Or FlimFlam retires, which I predict will be next spring, for reasons. I also think Papa Smurf is returning to retirement after the last of his RSUs etc vest 5/1/2027. I can only hope we have a new CEO before we hire a new GC, or there's no hope of getting someone who will actually challenge Papa Smurf the way a GC is freaking supposed to. This whole unholy alliance shows that the GC should report to the Board, not the CEO.
@zv Never known anyone in HR to correct a toxic workplace; seems like they just add fuel to that fire.
When are they going to get the CHRO replacement? This place is truly getting toxic.
@bw Thank you so much for your post. You are so right about FlimFlam and his minions. He is a bully. I witnessed him berate a member of my team during a meeting. This person stood up to him and told him he was wrong after he criticized a decision they made. The decision was right.
Having high expectations and holding bad performance to the fire is not a slide. It’s an upgrade!
So, to the poster who wrote a loss of good people in legal - I don’t disagree. But I also think the department is very political. Give flimflam a contrarian position and you’re toast. His lt doesn’t dare do that. Their salaries are more important. Is that wrong? Debatable. Flimflam NEVER gives a straight answer in a town hall. He is the Susan Collin’s of 3M. On the verge of doing something but not quite. Uninspiring, small minded, and completely obsequious to his paycheck. What do you think people down the line are going to do.
@a8 Dang, spoken like someone with a future in leadership if you aren't there already...but if this is indeed the best path forward, wouldn't it be better to break it apart to get "the needed oxygen" before you strangle it and make it stop breathing?
3M’ers come to Graco, lots of exciting new products and redesigned products in our future!
Thanks for this excellent post. Toxic leaders do not inspire employees to do their best to make 3M a successful company. Instead, they instill fear, create significant stress, make people less productive and are the reason some of 3M’s most talented employees leave. We have lost many talented support staff, paraprofessionals and lawyers in Legal for this very reason.
You’re not wrong. But not every company is meant to live forever. Perhaps it’s time to reimagine what 3M can be, including a break up of its many business lines in ways that provide the needed oxygen.