I got the message from Bill Way yesterday and it was amusing in the sense that he tried to act like he actually cared. Gotta call bullshit on that one! I'm sick and tired of hearing these self-interested, greedy guys referring to the "SWN family". If times get tough, do you throw your family into the streets? They will! But the rest of us folks who actually lived by the formula that worked hard and made thousands of right decisions that made SWN a (once) great company would never do such a thing. SWN family? My ass!
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I was locked out of my computer when I got to work and wasn't even able to read the email myself. My department decided that disabling our accounts would be a better way to let people know that they were laid off instead of telling us themselves.
I was very disappointed in how Bill Way handled this. After being named CEO, he should have held a town hall with the employees and at least in general terms talk about his management philosophy and what to expect. Face the people. Show some vision and courage. Whether you like Steve Mueller or not, at last August's town hall he announced that there would be layoffs that he sincerely regretted, and he said management bore most of the blame for poor decisions (mostly being too optimistic about the long-term price of natural gas. He took some share of responsibility. Bill Way merely sent an email at 5:00 a.m. the morning of the layoffs. Management tried very hard to keep the layoff a secret, almost as if they were springing a trap. People knew they were coming, but treat your employees like adults, speak plainly, and show some courage to face the people. I thought it was a chickensh--t way to handle it.
Probably some consultant wrote the email, I didn't think it sounded like the Bill we have seen. How much do you think SWN spent on that goodbye letter.
As has been pointed out - the employees where the black sheep of the family. I also find it significant that the money they say they'll save with the layoffs, is approximately equal to what Mueller took out in salary and bonuses over the last three years (when the company was tanking).
I did not get a choice. I was let go and I am good with it! There are numerous people, who were promoted way too fast for their experience levels. And, it showed profusely. With no senior guidance, they made a mockery of their positions. Now, many of them have been given a choice of demotions, or a package. If they don't let their egos influence their decisions, they should all take the demotions. Most were in way over their heads, and, to the companies embarrassment, it showed.
The company is distressed due to low commodity prices. You expect them not to take action and pay people to sit on their asses collecting paychecks, paying enormous benefit costs (insurance), vacation time, etc. while not drilling to replace reserves due to GLOBAL prices? Really? And how long should they do that-until the building kicks them out for non-payment of rent? I guess you'll vote for Bernie "Socialist" Sanders for POTUS in 2016. Someone has to 'pull the wagons' and not all people can just 'ride for free'-after a while, the horses stop pulling and the riders wonder what happened.
I'm one of those "old timers" who remembers SWN the way it used to be...a great company to work for. I agree, the current management team knows nothing about living the formula. Those days are long gone.
Agreed, all fake compassion