Thread regarding Chevron Corp. layoffs

Retired three years ago at 59. Retirement is great & we still live in the Bay Area. Not many companies still offer a 401K & a profit sharing plan.

Indeed, Chevron does pay very well, qqvl. The benefits, bonuses, and family leave time is the icing on the cake. Although I was laid off after 28 years with the company, I find solace in the fact that I came out very well working for Chevron all those years. No company or individual members of its management are perfect, but I am fortunate for the long run I had and I wish everyone still working there the same rewards I gained on the job. Long live Chevron.

Chevron employees are near the top of the food chain in our industry. We are better trained and with more diverse experience than most. Mid-sized and small companies love Us. So do service companies. If there are jobs available, we will get them first. Cheer up!

Life after Chevron has been great for me. Doing everything I want and checking off my bucket list little by little. I stay in contact with my work buddies and former colleagues who have retired and we go out to lunch often to keep up with the goings on. I'm very blessed.

I was laid off 2 years ago at 57 when I still had more to contribute to the company. In my first year, I must have applied for some 30 or so representative jobs that were posted. I received only one interview and not so much as a "sorry, but" reply from all the others. I realized after the first year with no job success that I had reached forced retirement. I'm still very active physically and mentally. There are times I do get bored, but I'm more relaxed now. I'm satisfied the 28 years I had with the company, I invested my money well and I stuck to "living within my means". I am debt and mortgage free and in good health. Maybe if I choose to stay busy, I'll seek a part time job in a less hectic environment with a company that can respect and gain from my education, knowledge and skill set. Chevron really is the one at a loss, not me. That's my attitude at least.

Ditto to -4ukg at the beginning of this thread, the lifestyle adjustment after 36 years with Chevron is not easy for me either. Still have kids in college to support and it is good to be able to do what I wish when I wish to do it.

Just feel for those older former employees like me without the working time and retirement savings. Good luck all.

Chevron should understand, foremost, they are an integrated Oil & Gas company. All the PC, diversity and feel-good crap should be a in distant second or third place behind everything else. Reward successful performance before everything else and the company will be forever successful. Attract the best professionals and pay them better than the competition. All mediocre employees should be fired for not making the cut after two straight years of falling into the lower tier. Sadly, Chevron chooses to do the opposite of all this and therefore they will not succeed in being the best company in the O&G industry.

The title of this thread should be life after the oil bust. Many thousands of professional and field employees have been laid off from dozens of oil and service sector companies. To iphe, Chevron is on the extreme end of company indoctrination to conform to all of the liberal PC, diversity, multiculturalism, OE, Human Energy (we really care and cherish our employees) and anything else I have left out. There is a reason for the derogatory term of 'chevroid'. Sad to hear that you had to find out the hard way that it is all just propaganda.

Prior to being laid off, I was a diehard supporter of Chevron.

Today, I understand how formerNazis must have felt in 1946 wondering how they got so badly misled.

I was a high potential employee that chose to leave chevron when i felt incapable to change the outcome and safety of one of the projects frequently referred to on this board. I'm young and lucky to have left before layoffs started, and because i spent my time learning how to be technical I'm useful in other industries. After a lot of thinking I'm happy to be trying something new in the renewable energy. Although I agree with some of the discussion on this board in terms of project derailments, I'm still grateful for the experienced guys who actually taught me a trade.

Life after Chevron: Fantastic! Better than I thought it would be.

Ha Ha! The robot is going nuts!!

Oh yeah -gvcw. I'm a 58 year old still working for Chevron. Going on 29 years with the company next month. I'd like you to look me up at 1400 Smith and tell me directly to my face that you think it's time for me to retire. For that matter, just mention your thoughts to anyone who you think it's time to retire. I'm sure they will show you exactly what I think about it.

Hey -gvcw, what do you know of when it's time for anyone to retire? Do you consider the company laying off anyone at 48, 50, 53, 55, or 58 the appropriate time? There's never an appropriate time. That's up the the individual employee to determine. If the day comes when you show up for work one day to learn the rug is being pulled from under you, I sure hope you remember my post. Maybe then you'll feel that no one should dictate to anyone when it's the appropriate time to retire.

-ffjm = -ffvf = -gmqq = HR robot in self-destruction mode

@MhMsg3J-gmqq

You don't sound like an useful one either.

The person posting constantly about HR and robots is a good example of the squirming useless dead wood that needs to be cut - LOL.

I think that the guy below was right about the the "dead-wood" staying around too long, as they call them on this board. Some of them think they are entitled to a job because they've been there so long doing close to nothing. There's a time when people need to retire. And it's very telling when the adolescent old folks start to squeal and squirm about it. If you were worth anything to the company, you wouldn't be bothered.

We youngsters are smart enough to learn from the baby boomer mistakes and don't blow all our money on Corvettes, bass boats and four divorces. When the time comes for usto be let go due to"age discrimination" we will be well off enough to not come here whining like a bunch of crybabies.

gila - good point. The younger generation IS "faster and better" - at pushing buttons. Decision quality, on the other hand, comes with age and experience (the DQ chart is just a start). Doing an MOC this morning that shows it..

The youngsters don't have to really 'know' that much because the software does all the work. The most important thing to know is which button to push.

Don't puff out your chests, you youngsters. One day, you'll be older and in the same position of many who were let go for age discrimination. It won't be so funny to you then.

The robot needs some WD-40 in his brain too!

Sounds like this malfunctioning robot needs his nappy changed. Thats why he is being unsettled. I hope his mommy packed an extra in his backpack.

-ffjm = -ffvf = malfunctioning HR robot

It seems that there are plenty of old losers on this board who think that anyone who gets laid off over the age of 40 or so amounts to "age discrimination"!!!! Ha Ha ha!! Too funny. So, if a company has plenty of younger folks who are better, sharper, faster, and cheaper, then they are not allowed to let the old slovenly do-nothings go. They have to keep the people who perform less that cost them more. If anything, that sounds more like NOT cutting the less productive older entitled do-nothing workers would be age discrimination to the younger, more efficient workforce. Since when do you not get to cut employees based on their value? And not what YOU think it is, idiots, what the company does, sorry that your inflated view of yourself differs. . Well, the very coddled children that you make fun of with the backpacks are apparently more capable than you, idiots. Wake up and smell the coffee.

"HR Robots" ???????? Seriously????? Which comment, idiot? Please take your medicine dear.

Too many HR robots here.

-cgaj & -cgnd, I agree with both your comments wholeheartedly. Chevron does not walk the talk. Age discrimination is 100% accurate and Karma is indeed a b--ch.

Rip: pretty much my feelings as well. If i had been a lower end performer, I'd accept it. But i wasnt. I got cut because i was an older employee. I always admired Chevron for its stance on diversity. But chevron thinks ageism is ok if their lawyers can get away with it. Karma is coming for Chevron and right quick.

The one dominant common fact in these replies is the age of those who have been released. Thank you Chevron for expecting total commitment and dedication for all those years and then dumping people with the most experience and knowledge when they are most vulnerable to finding another job. Another OE moment and a true example of the Chevron Way.

After my 28 years at CVX I was no longer required. I had a total of 1 month between jobs and ended up getting a contract position with another Operator. This other Operator has had 3 re-orgs since I started but still there and converted into staff. I guess I cannot be that bad...although I did suffer from thoughts of inadequacy following being laid off.

CVX gave me a lot of experience, skills, differing roles and travel. I appreciate that.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring but I'd be less scared if laid off again.

Good luck all. There is life after CVX.

Laid-off in April 2016... 53 years old... 11 years with Chevron... Like a few in this thread - I cannot afford to retire just yet. I probably need another 10 years. I've had four 'face-to-face' interviews since last April and several more phone interviews that didn't go anywhere. After the 5th interview, I finally landed at a small Engineering firm that specializes in small-medium Gas projects. Money is a little less, no pension and bonuses (if any) are tied directly to the project performance.. like any E&C. I can't complain too much about Chevron - good pay while I was there... good bonuses... great people that I worked with... built-up my 401K and a decent pension.

Funny - I haven't looked at this layoff board in probably 6 months. I do find it quite interesting to read all of the post... laughing at some and SMH at others. Good luck to all still looking and congrats to those that decided to go ahead and retire.

I have gotten a new job as an engineer, and I am no longer in Oil and Gas. With a small consulting firm, it's a nice change of pace. Unlike the previous poster,, I have 2 degrees, both in STEM fields, have over 30 years of engineering experience, and I will work weekends if I have to and perhaps an occasional holiday. My pay and benefits are fantastic with my new company, I get paid OT, and I couldn't ask for more. I've never been afraid or reluctant to put in all that it takes to insure a quality project, why would I stop now? Now maybe if I was a pathetic high school kid without a degree that the previous poster speaks of then I would have no self-respect or work ethic and feel entitled like a millennial. But in that case, I probably would have the new high-paying position with great benefits that I am fortunate to have. I get paid holidays, plenty of vacation and personal time off with my new position, but that doesn't stop me from performing my duties and getting my deliverables out in a timely manner, never has, never will. Maybe that's why I am offered and enjoy those benefits and freedoms?

Thanks 8edj for the encouragement. I'm still looking but I don't get so upset with each turndown or non-response anymore. I'm looking and applying in all industries now, not only O&G and energy industry. I'm willing to shift gears into anything except retail. I won't work weekends or holidays. That's good for high school kids and others without a degree or high technical background.

7nro and others - Don't give up hope! Your best job leads will be through former co-workers and headhunters. Been there and know how much it hurts.

Honestly, best of luck

Same for me. Laid off in April 2016 at 58. No company is willing to hire someone my age. Silent discrimination. I am able to retire but it isn't the retirement I envisioned for myself a few years ago. I had hoped to keep working for another 7 years. When social security kicks in for me, I'll have more breathing room.

Laid off April 2016. Still no job leads. (Houston)

@6ctt, I believe by 2019 oil prices will be stable, but not at $60+/BBL. I think it will still be oscillating in the $40's and 50's.

Laid off by CVX at age 52, after 30 years with Texaco + CVX. After 2 years of doing occasional contract work, I finally landed a full time gig, but it's in the Middle East.

Unlike some others in this discussion thread, I could not retire in my mid-50s, so I had to s--- it up and move to the "not so tranquil" Arabian region. I've got another 2 years left on my employment contract, then will move back to Texas. Hopefully, by 2019 oil prices will be stable at $60+/BBL, the USA oil industry will be picking up again, and someone will hire a late 50s "mature" individual ? Fingers crossed for me !