It's ridiculous how much management tries to maintain the appearance that this is a great workplace.
What about reality and real issues that are swept under the rug?
Do they think it's a viable long-term solution?
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Empty vessels make the most noise.
Hired just before 2000, old days Cisco hiring package example (G8):
- Complete professional pack and ship of entire household.
- Paid all selling expenses on old home.
- Points paid on new home, new Cisco location (Cisco buildings still being built).
- Paid corporate housing, three months.
- 12,000 hiring options.
Worked many days very late and around the clock; earned the above. It was worth it.
Best team experience and most challenging career phase those first years. But worth it completely.
Sad to see how much it has changed.
Sad to see this next generation not having those opportunities available. Different company lifecycle phases. Still was a great challenge and rewarding experience. Those days are over.
Beware of companies, mediocre leaders who brag about themselves.
Remember: A lion never has to tell you he is a lion.
"By definition most of the current employees were hired after the 2001 layoffs."
How many employees were obtained through acquisitions? These employees are on different compensation and stock levels. For example, the employees acquired from Meraki were paid significantly more than full-time Cisco employees.
Do they think it's a viable long-term solution?
The inflection point was in 2001 when the company went from 48,000 employees and contractors to 35,000. At the same time the parking lots went from over half full at midnight to completely empty by 7pm. Wikipedia reports 83,300 employees as of 2022 which if you include people that came and went they've likely hired well over 50,000 during that time so it's been a viable strategy for the past 22 years. By definition most of the current employees were hired after the 2001 layoffs.
It's not a viable long-term solution, but management is only trying to delay the inevitable decline so they aren't concerned over the long-term.
Workplaces that are actually good don’t need to tell you they are.