Has anyone heard if and when they are to be removing our office plants as part of the COST initiative? I am very attached to mine and wondered if there would be opportunity to purchase?
31 replies (most recent on top)
When you're at work, you need a mind-body tag team: a fragrant shrub to stimulate your brain and a leafy plant to scrub your office air (which can be five times more polluted than the air outside). Finding the right foliage for you depends on a number of factors, however, including the amount of sunlight in the room and the color of your thumb. Clear your head (and the air) and while you wait for both direction and news from ConocoPhillips leadership - make the most of things and read a great guide from James Dillard, MD: Plants Why You Can't Live Without Them (Roli Books, 2010)
When they take your IPhone make sure the alarm is set for every 10 minutes, full volume, Claxon alarm as a nice parting gift. The low level HR person used for the layoff won't be much good to negotiate with.
Insanity provides leverage in corporate American. Excellent approach to a larger severance package.
If I get called to the conference room of dread, I'm going to pick up my plant, cradle it like a clairvoyant baby and walk in like nothing is out of the ordinary, similar to the Log Lady from Twin Peaks. I'll then start to negotiate a better severance. That would be fun and make for some great bar stories, at the very least.
No, we're not serious. It's gallows humor.
Office plants? really? Who cares about office plants? You cant be serious...
I did hear that all trimming decisions will be made without regard to branch location.
All office plants, regardless of location, will be trimmed a minimum of 25% effectively immediately. The need for further plant trimming will be reevaluated in Q4 as well as again in Q1/16. All trimming decisions will be made based on the office conditions existing at the time. Office plants will have to learn to thrive under leaner foliage requirements recently implemented. Maybe its time to turn over a new leaf.
136407 - or trim them...?
You might as well forget the furniture, lamps, and artwork.
This is so funny. In the whole scheme of things, you are worried about plants that aren't even yours?? Here's my advice . . . If you are concerned about being laid off due to age and pay grade, take the plant home RIGHT BEFORE the layoffs. What are they going to do? Fire you? THEY SURE WON't let you go back to your office to say goodbye or pick up your things. They will box up your non-perishables that they DO NOT believe have any work relationship and ship them to you. This won't include ANY plants . . . yours or COP's. So, if you have any company memorabilia, take it home. Copy your Outlook files, because you won't be able to get your notes, contacts, or calendars one you are called to a conference room. Good luck, now focus on what is really important.
Exotic plants at this stage are not in the discussion for repatriation and local varieties are, despite the rumors that ConocoPhillips is modifying its policy, still eligible for the standard severance package. Honoring commitments to office plants has always been a high priority for the company, returning high dividends to the office atmosphere and at this stage there are no plans to cut them.
Wait. My plant isn't native; it's exotic. I hope that it isn't repatriated!
start the bidding, $1 for the globe
Er...the one on your desk or in general? A bit creepy!
I love lamp
I really like the up-down desk!
keep an eye on kijiji/craiglist for Conoco's 2nd hand furniture sale ad..... (the money made by selling 2nd hand furniture will be used to increased the dividend!)
So.... if I want my 10 year old office chair then it may be free? How about 2000 of them? That may be what is coming loose soon.
During this difficult time I would like to please remind you all to try and stay focussed. For those of you seeking to find out about these other important matters - such as purchasing office furniture and/or paintings please create your own separate post. Incidentally - office furniture depreciates at a pretty fast rate with most companies viewing furniture older than 10 years completely worthless.
Do you think there will be deals available for some of the office furniture?
Some of it is very old and nasty, but I like the desks that go up and down
What about the artwork?
It's well known that plants reduce stress in the workplace - perhaps they've done the calculation on cost of keeping plants vs cost of increased use of EAP due to increased stress levels and decided keeping the plants would be cheaper?
Will you also pay for the water?
This post literally made my day!
We would love to hear the reaction if you made an offer! I believe those plants are rented and thus you may be able to negotiate with the plant people if you can find out who they are?
Ryan isn't smart enough to make money off of selling terminated employees their office plants.
Hahaha finally a funny post in this group
Side note, personal office plants are best moved home. The employee will not be allowed the opportunity to collect office plants (or other office items) at the time of a layoff. Office plants are not ideal for boxing and shipping.
To:Anonymous135384，should not that mean to original poster(OP).
To:OP, I would buy the plant if they sell. At least contribute to saving $$ out of half Billions for the company...
It all depends. If you are too attached to it, they may just have to remove you along with it!