In 1994 I wrote the following to Phillips management. Even in the darkest of times, Phillips could always rely on one thing to keep its shield shining and hold its position in the market place. That has been the fierce loyalty of its family. We are talking about the employees , not the greedy investors or shifting-with-the-wind stockholders. It has been this undying devotion to the Company and the tradition that "We are a family" attitude that has overcome past takeover attempts, poor Management decisions, strong industry competition, and unsettling economic conditions that have challenged us. Now, with the latest Management team, it is the callous and uncaring attitude of this Management toward the employees that is shaking the very foundations of this Company. For the employee has become just another commodity, to be used or thrown away depending on the whims of the Executives. We hear that change is constant and that no one is guaranteed a job. Everyone is responsible for their own destiny. We have seen our fellow employees whom we have worked with side by side for many years being driven away, not because they were not excellent performers, but because they were older, getting toward retirement, and because of their many years of loyal service, making higher salaries. All of this has been done in the name of keeping this Company strong by making certain we keep our expenses low to provide the highest return to our stockholders. No employee disagrees that each of us needs to put out our very best effort to ensure the stockholders get a fair return from their investment. This Management team however is using this excuse to line their own pockets with unearned profits built upon the blood, sweat, and tears shed by the employees and their families. This Company is rapidly developing into a class society, a few at the top who are reaping huge unethical and immoral profits, and the vast majority who are working harder than ever before, only to see their jobs disappear, their grades and salaries reduced, and their families live with the constant fear of uncertainty. This Management team is so caught up in its own little world of self fulfillment, it has forgotten that the employee is the most important asset of this Company. Without them, there is no Company, and thus no need for a Management team. We can only hope that the Management team of Phillips will re-focus its attitude from arrogance to humility, from greediness to caring, from internal competition to teamwork, from cost cutting to profit making, and from short term gain to long term prosperity for all, through new vision and leadership. SOMEHOW BY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD I SURVIVED THOSE 41 YEARS. MY PRAYERS GO OUT FOR THOSES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND FOR THOSE WHO FOR NOW CONTINUE TO WORK.
10 replies (most recent on top)
174556 - dam right, treat the company like an ATM - you're nothing more than a number to them, so why can't it work the other way?
I've only been here for 2 and my generation is nothing like this.
I believe COP is just another company and I will stay as long as it suits me. When the wind shifts, I am gone.
No way in hell in shedding blood, or a single damn tear!
Corporate world sucks now a days, I wish I had been born 40 years ago , when emplyes did count as assets and companies keep the well being of the people to the max!!
Kudos Sir
Great post and agree with it all. I posted something wrt management in another thread - a reply to somebody who was commenting on 'worker bees' being replaceable. Management is a COST CENTER. employees help get the product out of the ground. You know, the stuff that makes us money. The employees lower costs, increase efficiencies etc. In reality, MANAGEMENT is a dime a dozen, it is the EMPLOYEES that make the company. Somewhere/Somehow over the past 10 - 15 yrs this fundamental piece has been lost and now the 'replaceables' are the ones reaping the benefits
Well stated. You are correct in your assessment that it will only get worse. Good luck to the few good ones that survive this round, because you will be left to pick up the slack of those non-performers who were kept for strictly political reasons.
I agree with all of this, sad as it is. I worked for hConoco and COP for 34 years and 4 months. My layoff was unexpected and a slap in my face. Yes, I was relatively close to retirement, but I wanted to work until 40 years. I never felt so devalued as I did the past couple of years.
The company has decided to focus on US L48 unconventional whoose business is low cost manufacturing whike keeping the compensation of a value adding E&P company. Employees are not being treated well and it will get worse in the years to come ...
I'd agree with this "This Company is rapidly developing into a class society, a few at the top who are reaping huge unethical and immoral profits, and the vast majority who are working harder than ever before," and I was with the company for 3 decades...was...
That’s a well said. I had been with the company for 35 years. My name has been associated with COP for so long but it turned out that I was just an MIA in this game.