Thread regarding 3M layoffs

Expect an announcement today (10/21). WYW website is being updated. Check out the FAQ on that page. It is updated with some details.

the old boomers are just pi---d they had to go in the office for 30+ years while missing all the important family stuff.

wondering what will happen to the 'free coffee' if everyone return back to work (hypothetically)

I know of a colleague of JG15 who threatened to resign if ever asked to be RTO. He has been with company for 25 years

Had confirmed by boss via theirs (VP) that it’s 3 days a week for JG16 and above to encourage everyone else to come in as well.
Looking forward to 3 days a week stuck in a meeting room in an almost deserted office on Teams to all the people I work with, who all live in different countries, while still having all travel blocked or cancelled at the last minute.

i heard of a regional colleague complaining again. he said he would resign if he were to RTO, as he finds the rush hour traffic "unacceptable". Guessed these people have enjoyed working from home, and unable to accept reality if RTO.

Bold of BB when his jet spends a lot of time at the FLL airport...

RTO J16 Task Force member here. RTO is slated to be 3 days back in office for J15 and above the effective as we go into 2025.

I am looking forward to getting back to the office. A refreshing change to help us accomplish company goals in a more productive fashion. Su-ks that I have to accomplish all my personal stuff on the weekend now.

The decision to end remote work seems to be less about productivity and more about encouraging people who moved far from the office to resign. By pushing these employees to quit voluntarily, 3M can avoid the costs associated with severance packages, making it a cost-saving strategy disguised as a call for “returning to normal.”

This approach overlooks the numerous benefits of remote work, which have been supported by various studies:

1. Increased Productivity: A Stanford University study from 2015 found that remote workers were 13% more productive compared to their office counterparts. They reported fewer distractions and better work-life balance, leading to improved focus and efficiency.
2. Reduced Absenteeism: A report by Owl Labs in 2021 indicated that remote employees took fewer sick days and had lower absenteeism rates. The flexibility of working from home allowed workers to manage minor illnesses or personal matters without taking full days off.
3. Employee Satisfaction and Retention: According to a Buffer survey in 2022, 97% of remote workers would recommend remote work to others, and 91% reported feeling more satisfied with their jobs due to better work-life balance. This satisfaction reduces turnover rates, saving companies the cost of hiring and training new staff.
4. Lower Overhead Costs: Research by Global Workplace Analytics has shown that companies can save up to $11,000 per year for every part-time remote employee due to reduced office space, utility costs, and other overhead expenses.
5. Environmental Impact: A 2020 study by the Carbon Trust revealed that widespread remote work could reduce the carbon footprint by cutting down on commuting, thus contributing to sustainability goals.
6. Diverse Talent Pool: Remote work allows companies to hire talent from anywhere, leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce. A study by Gartner in 2021 emphasized that companies offering flexible work options attracted a wider range of candidates, boosting innovation and creativity.

In conclusion, while some companies may use the end of remote work as a tactic to reduce severance costs, the benefits of remote work—backed by multiple studies—are clear. Remote work promotes higher productivity, cost savings, employee retention, and environmental benefits. Instead of discouraging it, companies should embrace it as a strategy for long-term success.

@2aeg+1uOz6epf

Yes, a lot of bitterness out there.

If a person does not want to come into the office/lab/factory, then they can go get a job that does not require it.

If a person wants a job that is done in the office/lab/factory, they can also go get a job that requires it.

WFH has some real conveniences for people with global roles. As mentioned, being able to do a 6 am phone call with Europe and a 9 pm phone call with Asia on the same day is only really sustainable with WFH.

There will be a really easy way to tell if 3M really values in-person collaboration, just look what happens with the travel budgets.

I’m more productive having the flexibility to decide when being in the office with my group is better than being on a remote call. For international people working with various functions it finally felt like they were included and I am more willing to have a remote meeting that starts at 6:30 am if I can just get up and work. Also, when English isn’t your first language or you aren’t the interruption type remote calls allow for hand raising in a culture of “the loudest voice gets heard”. What happened to inclusive and equitable. Are we no longer global? Is that how we grow?
Less money LTI, less flexibility, more control and mistrust for what? So people can be milling around so Bill or COC men feel powerful and superior. Not to mention the communications flip flop. Can we just stick to what is promised and stop changing direction.

This will be easy . The people in the office only work 5-6 hour days. Just be seen and go home

Stop playing hooky and go back to work. You crying because you know you lazy

Most people here seem to be pi---d because they have roles that require them to be at a particular location. There are a lot of roles that need people to be physically present, to make things, do science, or manage groups in manufacturing. Then there are a lot of roles where even in the office your day is spent on Teams calls and having remote meetings or working on your own project on the computer. I've worked remote for 25 years, during covid I was working 6 days/week to reinvent roles. There are people who skate with remote work, but there are people who skate while being in the office.

Hey BB,

Should you stumble upon this site...

https://youtu.be/vUQF-cCJD34

I love how everyone on here seems to be against WFH because "only the people who WFH are lazy and take naps during work". Yet, many companies and studies have proven there is no productivity benefit of someone working at the office versus WFH. For a company that is full of scientists and is always saying how it's led by data this is one instance when a single individual's own ego will negatively impact thousands of his coworkers. BB is making $19.1 million this year to tour plants and speak during on earnings calls. If there is one role we can replace using AI surely it has to be the incompetent CEO.

Wfh is a disguise for the high level folks to enjoy their control tower oversight while getting their afternoon naps and running daytime errands. BB have to be bold to put a stop to this

At no point in the last five years have large groups of dedicated employees been pointing in the same direction. 3M suffers from initiative overkill for initiatives that have been poorly defined, cannot be measured, and have produced little benefit or value as a result. Good ideas, good projects, good leadership, good hiring by competent HR teams (we can dream), and good working conditions will drive employees back to office everywhere it makes sense. Good employees will produce strong results regardless of location in most cases, but positive culture and a pride in the 3M brand seems like a thing of the past and most employees know this through shared experience. I’d happily return to the office if there was any value in it in terms of output or performance of my team.

I often wonder how many leaders have read or understand the McKnight principles?

WFH is a joke so let's stop kidding ourselves. I moved out of state and knew that my time at 3M would be limited once I committed to the move, this plan was unsustainable from day one. BB has a lot of stupid to undo, the strategy team that formulated and executed WYW needs to be quickly eliminated.

Will BB lead by example

Add me to the list that is skeptical that if it's 2-3 days per week or only targets a certain job level that BB will stop there. I think if it were up to him, everyone would be back immediately

Eventually it will be 5 days in the office. Prepare for it.

Our VP also told us that there will be changes to WYW, but details are scant. Rumors seem to be that this will impact near remote employees, undetermined if it is all employees or just employees above a certain job grade, timing (latest seems to be Jan 1) and day expectations. I guess we’ll hear more this month.

One of our VPs (I mean directors before the title inflation episode) said changes are coming to WYW and nobody should be surprised based on things BB has said. But he would not elaborate saying it was not settled yet. That was a week ago or two. So something like 3 days would not be surprising. It would be nice to see some flexibility given earlier promises that were made. Won't affect me either way, but that is the latest I heard. So something is coming...

Mark Murphy confirmed WYW is changing in the IT Town Hall. You can find his answer to the question at the 1hr 47min mark. He says “we are going to a “Hybrid when you can” model and there will be “flexibility”. There is also some other nuggets in there as well. It seems like the exact details are not known, but now that BB gets to play emperor he would like his wage slaves where he can see them.

The info was from a CBG GPO. Zero reason to bullsh*t. It will be happening. Gird your loins, friends.

Is there any evidence of this whatsoever, or are you just making up rumors?

While WYW is changing there is no concrete information on the number of days required in the office. To claim 3 days a week back in the office is premature. Mark Murphy even stated that it will be flexible and he was unsure of exact details.

My guess is it will be encouraged to do 1-3.