I have been here for several years and have always wondered why so many people wear these backpacks to work everyday. It is so weird. I have worked at many places and have never seen anything like this. It is almost like some kind of cult behavior. A full time (blue badge) person told me about robot employees with no real personality who only speak in corporate TLA's (three letter acronym) and how they were referred to as chevroids. He told me that backpack people were chevroid types. We both laughed. How many suck up backpacking chevroids have been laid off? It is almost too funny to someone who has not been indoctrinated. PS - I know I may be cut soon, but I just don't care.
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I was told that people carry dead wood in their backpacks.
You know, they make these things that are both backpacks and rolling bags? Seriously, get rid of all the DEAD WOOD in this company!! Hehehe
Sounds like someone wearing a backpack with a chevron logo must have really screwed you over pretty raw...... You'll get it over it. Atleast we all hope you do. There's already enough crazy shit going on in the world, we don't particularly need anymore people going postal.
Backpacks with the Chevron logo are about as clueless as you can get. A backpack is not a stable protection for a laptop and the Chevron logo makes it a target for theft.
It says "I am an overgrown, obese wimpy kid."
Dick, we're referring to those office workers running around with Chevron logo backpacks.
I could maybe see someone saying something like "people who drive porsches are smug" or something like that, but backpacks ??? Wow that is alot of smug people. It must be just you against the world then huh ?
I don't think we have listening devices in our cheese, but for sure, about 95% of all Chevron office workers who wear backpacks are smug.
Did you know they put listening devices in your cheese ? Seriously, they do. Oh and people who wear backpacks are smug.
Not really a relevant post, you say? With 2,010 views and 35 replies (including this one), I wouldn't call it that irrelevant.
Not really a relevant post, I'm afraid. These days, many employees in many companies carry backpacks. You don't have to set them down on a bus/train/van. They are more convenient than a briefcase, and can be tossed in the corner or under the table in meetings inconspicuously. What, exactly, is the issue here that warrants so much discussion?
Not buying your story TC. If anything this rant represents some issue inside your mind, maybe some sort of insecurity.
Backpacks are for Road Warriors. Most of the office folks I see toting their backpacks, running to catch their vans are "smug pretenders". Pretending to be the indispensable "on the run" worker who catches up on their computer work from home or a hotel room somewhere. Lots of the backpackers leave their laptops at work and only use it to look like busy workers among the crowd leaving the office promptly at 4:00 pm. You know who they are.
Backpacks = smug ??? Really???
NetGIL? Does that old technology still get used in Chevron? If it does, it is fading away fast. VPN is a faster and more secure way.
"Chevron doesn't have a way for us to log into the network from personal computers"
Uh....yes we do. Netgil.chevron.com
You just need your smart badge and a smart badge reader (or convince IT to give you a password).
@3zdm - Your case is an exception to the rule. Thanks for your hard work and contribution to Chevron. As a Road Warrior, lugging around a large backpack is essential to your job. I think the subject of the thread refers more to the smug and average Chevronite trying to imitate a person like yourself.
Some of us are assigned to major projects that operate 24 hours a day, due to different fabrication sites being scattered around the world. Chevron doesn't have a way for us to log into the network from personal computers, therefore we have to drag those heavy brick laptops home with us each night. Believe me, I'd rather NOT have to take a damn computer home every night, but I need it just in case they call. Has nothing to do with culture.
I remember hearing so many times while working at Chevron to not identify the company in any way when wearing your badge. Don't attach or group any identifier along with the badge, so if lost, can lead someone who found it to know its associated with Chevron or one of its facilities. So now Chevron is handing out backpacks with the Chevron logo on it to carry your company laptop, your badge, your files, your USB flash drive. Go figure that one.
It's not just Chevron, this is also done at ExxonMobil and also service companies like BHI and HAL. I use a generic backpack (don't ever wear company logo stuff). I can use it for my laptop, ipad, and my lunch (since I work shifts that don't allow me to go to cafeteria or leave campus). I see other people use backpacks and they don't even necessarily have anything in common. Some of them don't even have a college education and others do, so that doesn't expain it. Usually it's just convenience. For my situation It's either a backpack or one of those euro type things that goes on your side, and I simply go with a backpack (no I wouldn't roll around with a cart at work either...).
I used a backpack working offshore for many years, easy to carry laptop, personnel items etc., put on and take off helicopter. I am not a briefcase guy so I continue to carry it now that I am a office type. How long? Not much longer, I hope!
Let's see what PGPA Pizza Guy doles out on the next disaster.
The smug PGPA "pros" don't understand that backpacks are for pre-adolescents, and putting the Chevron logo on the backpack makes it a target for theft. BTW, Pizza Guy is still here.
There are plenty of self-absorbed characters in Chevron. But, there are even more Chevron employees who are everyday people just doing the best job they can. The all-important smug types know who they are. Kicking them down two or three rungs will teach them some humility.
Trotting around on Smith Street between 1400, 1500, and 2AC, looking all important and self absorbed... With my backpack.... I'm the Chevroid! Reminds one of the quote from my favorite movie:You are not your job, you're not how much money you have in the bank. You are not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You are not your f---ing khakis. You are all singing, all dancing crap of the world
Chevron bleeding more cash and its stock down near $3 his morning. That 20% headcount cut is closer than we think.
Slow news? Well, oil is below 40 and going down? Want more news? Chevron bleeding cash and sitting twiddling thumbs.
Slow news day, so we have to talk about something, let it be backpacks - 1000 views on this pointless thread, it has to be a very slow news day
Accenture, Deloitte, google Google, Facebook, you see people here in the bay area carrying laptop bags with their logos all the time - I think it's kind a cool
Real Answer: The "briefpack" (soft sided brief case) was the case of choice for carrying your GIL Laptop and business stuff until a few years ago when some goober in San Ramon or Houston or somewhere either fell or had a near miss by tripping over the shoulder strap. After that they were banned and the backpack took up the slack.
Yes, the backpacks are mostly seen in Houston... precisely where Chevron has most of its employees. Ditch those silly backpacks.
OP is weird, just grasping as straws for something to yell. "Old man yells at clouds!" Backpacks are a convenient way to carry stuff. Why bring weird conspiracy theories into this? Show some dignity.
Backpack symbolizes collegial spirit, the very antithesis of corporate culture. So it is good. Chevron has more of a collegial spirit that is absent in other companies. But not in every BU, mind you. It is mostly in Houston.
What kind of a topic is this anyway? Guess OP wants to find fault with everything in Chevron.
I have been to many companies on client business, including BP, Hess, Statoil, Shell, Marathon, Repsol, and some others and have never seen employees walking around with backpacks. It is just not done at other O&G companies. This is most definitely a Chevron thing.
So right about that PGPA "faux pas" in Pennsylvania after that poor guy died in the gas explosion. Handing out free pizza coupons... what the hell??? I hope the masterminded behind that idea is already off the payroll.
a lot of people are proud to work for Chevron. and they should. having an item that sports C's logo is nothing from sporting a shirt with an alligator. it sends a message, good or bad, right or wrong
Who uses a briefcase today? I mean, are you serious?
Chevron hands out logo items to employees. PGPA doesn't understand marketing or PR. They hand out pizza coupons to the towns affected by a gas explosion that killed a young father and thousands of logo backpacks to employees.
@Backpaker - You are the rear exception to the rule. Most Chevronites will only use the backpack and any other thing the company will purchase for them. I've seen employees ask the company for things that soon after getting, they set aside and never use again. A complete waste of resources.
I bought my own backpack, thank you very much. I use it when I'm out in the field. I also bought my own briefcase which I use when I'm in the office. So stop the backpack conspiracy theories over who prefers what, who bought it, and what that all signals. But I suppose now you will get your kicks calling me "bi."
They are a sign of a child-like attitude about their career. Where are my free donuts for attending the meeting...