This morning I almost threw up from being nervous just from having to go to work. This is not how life and work balance should be, and this should not be a reaction any of us have just from thinking about work. I think we are not even aware of how abnormal our work culture is, and how pointless the whole “career”, “professional achievements”, and “honest work” have become over the last few decades. I dread being laid off, I dread staying in Cisco, I dread looking for another job.
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You should try ginger, very good for an uneasy stomach
I left a long stable job at a very reputable company to come to Cisco. Followed the money and it was a mistake. I will not sit here and complain endlessly about everything, everyone, and blame others. I recognize my mistake.
Unfortunately, the culture in my team was extremely toxic. I had the bad experience of having an abusive boss and in response to his bad behavior, a very sneaky, back stabbing team that stole ideas, credit from me and others. They constantly complained about everyone in the company they crossed paths with. Attending team meetings and hearing complaint after complaint was exhausting. I had never experienced a team culture like that.
About Stockholm syndrome, I have to agree. This team all talked about how happy they were to be in the team in front of the bully boss. Lots of brown nosing.
Not until he was LR’d, and he was gone, did they all admit how toxic the culture was in our team. They were glad he was gone. But, he needed to be gone for them to open their eyes and see the cult-like bully-admiring group they were in.
To anyone else experiencing this. Keep your head up and keep your dignity intact. Recognize the negative spiral , and do your best to stay out of the angry toxicity. Do your best to not be on the side that complains, blames, and hates on others. I saw for myself these people are not happy and were operating out of fear.
When the bully team leader was gone, they finally were able to have peace in their working lives again.
PPT and politics are the top needed skills at Cisco. Regrettably they are not that much in demand elsewhere.
@1npb+1ujWsrTq explore options. Don't let your career @ Cisco paint you into a corner.
So you're older, so what? Age is a state of mind. Without knowing your current role, it never hurts to brush up on some new skills or try to position yourself where the market may be shifting next.
Take some time off if you can afford to. Cisco is not a place worth dying for. If you're a regular reader of this message board and employee of Cisco then you know the political culture there is polluted. If Cisco is such a great place to work, why is this message board so active?
I once had to change careers. I'll let you in on a little secret: I had to give myself an honest review. I looked at what my strengths and weaknesses were. I looked at other positions and began trying to figure out what my transferable skills may be. It wasn't easy, but I managed.
If you still feel like you will not fare well post-Cisco in the private sector, I encourage you to look at government jobs in the public sector. They may not pay as much as private sector, but you will have good job security and benefits.
Do not be afraid, explore all options. Remember: You are in your own lane, and every opportunity is just an option until you sign an offer letter.
Don't give up. There are others here who have been in similar situations as you. God bless.
This is my livelihood. If I lose my job at Cisco I’m done. I’m single and older female. I’ll go bankrupt and lose everything. I have been worried about it since I read the leak.
There is so much unseen harm that happens at Cisco. Leadership is destroying lives while they cash in their options to buy houses, cars, pay tuition for their kids. They do this on the backs of Cisco employees.
The only time I saw Fran have a conscious was after an employee shot himself infront of a Cisco building in RTP. She finally talked about the toxic culture at the company. (This was at a beat meeting about 7yrs ago)
My advice, if you have less than 10 years of service, just go. The severance of 6 mos + 1 week of service for 10-19 years isn’t worth it.
I stayed because I wanted them to “pay me to leave” the toll it took on my mind and body pushed me to the brink. It wasn’t worth it. I regret it.
My friends who left are making a SH!T ton more than me because they kept jumping and bagging a 20-30% raise every time they moved every 3-5 years.
Everything you’re feeling is real. You’re right you should never feel ill about going to work. Listen to your body, you must take care of yourself. Cisco isn’t worth it.
Cisco has fabricated workers through a form of Stockholm Syndrome … you’ll not recognize it until you’re out for a while.
OP working at Cisco is traumatizing. It's worse when you are led to believe your work was once impact, important, and you were at the top of your league. Then with time, re-orgs, petty politics or LR's they finally catch up and give you the axe.
I drank from the fountain of Cisco once. Initially it was sweet, invigorating and stimulating. Eventually I realized beneath the sweetness was a toxic poison and it was ki-ling me.
There's a reason why you see so many ex-Cisco people on this forum. Most of them have various forms of PTSD from their experience working for this company. You don't have to serve in a war to have PTSD. It can come from other traumatic events in your life.
Listen, the only way to get over Cisco BS is to move your life forward. Work/Life balance is so important. Work on yourself. Take a break first if you need it. Put in the time to polish up your resume and skills. Don't be afraid to learn skills outside of your comfort zone. Just because you worked as an engineer/project manager/analyst/etc/etc at Cisco for 20+ years doesn't mean that's how you have to retire.
And old dog can learn new tricks. Stay hungry, and stay humble. Many of us have been through the BS at Cisco. It only gets better once you're out.
Are people really this soft.
Imagine you lived during WWII and were forced to leave your cushy job to fight some enemy in a foreign land where most of your friends and neighbors already died.
Then whine about work/like balance.
S-O-F-T , soft
A few mil years ago the dinosaurs were roaming the planet.
Imagine how it felt. Humans were sharing or fighting for caves with bears and other predators. Imagine that!
Each era with its challenges my friend.
Today earth is roamed by humans like you and that is a challenge
Humans like you who think that because what happened in the past was way worse than what is happening these days, we should endure. Humanity paid a price to be here. Let's try not to compare with what used to happen. Back then when WWII was a reality ELT would have paid a heavy price for leaving people on the streets. Do you want to talk about that, just to compare apples with apples?
Your health and your close family health comes first. Don't let work be the priority, if feeling overwhelmed go for a walk , swim. Try to get hold of ur finances if u haven't done so by now and don't buy into consumerism, life can be enjoyed in its simplicity. Take care.
You dread getting laid off and you dread staying here and looking for a new job. You are as clueless as any of the ELT. Like previous comment you seem like an undeserving DEI hire or late in the career who got no skills for another job
I bet you are a non productive DEI hire
@@ibk+1ujWsrTq yes people are really this soft, especially on the Cisco conscious culture, people deal and "best place to work" brain washing employees are faced with.
Your points are true. The only thing you need to dread is ever doing to you and yours what Cisco may do to you! Have no fear, there is life after Cisco especially if you keep your head high (as you should if you give/gave your best during your tenure at cisco). I've been there you see (and life is better if only because of the absence of fear of job loss). All the best my friend.
Are people really this soft.
Imagine you lived during WWII and were forced to leave your cushy job to fight some enemy in a foreign land where most of your friends and neighbors already died.
Then whine about work/like balance.
S-O-F-T , soft