It is unfair for Chevron to use the Bridges Program to bring in retired employees to work on projects at the same time that employees that still have jobs are being laid off.
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"Wheel house", what a cliche. Warning - don't use it unless you want others to know how out of date you are. I never liked that term since the first tine I heard it long ago. Sounds so silly, unless you're applying for the Captain's job on the next Titanic.
Right in my wheel house!
Where do I sign up?
Both Exxon and Shell use a similar type of program. Bringing back 30 and 40 year experience, particularly field experience (operators, electricians, instrument, rig vs office bureaucrats) was very valuable to project execution and start-up and added flexibility hence reducing layoffs. They brought back only the best...proven performers who survived many a PIP. That's why Shell and Exxon execute major projects much better and deep knowledge and practical experience gets passed down to the younger members of the project team. I worked for both Shell and Exxon, and their project management is far better.
1 hvs below is correct many of the over 50's let go last year EOI'ed and received good packages and early retirement. When they left they took many decades of experience and knowledge with them. The Bridges program is a cheap way to retain and tap into that knowledge. Chevron gets a good deal and the individual makes a decent day rate.
Got laid off 2 years ago. Now dead broke and enrolled in the "Under A Bridges Program".
Not sure what the norm is but Bridges has been great to me (retired 2016 with a nice package after EOIing). Turning down more projects than I accept, taking those that are a good fit, and Houston isn't a bad place on someone elses dollar.
Two fond memories from my last years at Chevron (laid off in my 60's)
1) A two year project with lots of LPO if it didn't get done right. It started up on-budget and on-time - a month after I got laid off.
2) Mentoring younger employees. It was rewarding to help younger employees develop their decision quality and sometimes, just plain engineering/operations skills. Some of the things they wanted to do were scary, Fewer and fewer people left to do this job - at least ones that actually know how to do it.. I had to laugh that I saw a Chevron ad for a Project Managers position, projects up to $100MM - must have 5 years working experience. Kind of says it all.
Let me clarify, aro, "the employee is our most valued asset", Applies to valuable employees, not to butthurt loser do-nothing d---beats like you.
Not entirely correct @eqz. Not all were let go or laid off for poor performance and incompetence. Some were for that reason, but others over 55 were mainly let go because they costed the company more in salary and benefits than needed. Either way, it was a business decision. All this should be a long-remembered example to everyone that the "Chevron Way" and "the employee is our most valued asset" are only words.
These would be the last people to bring back. They were all fired, let go, layed-off for poor performance and incompetence. How do you think we are where we are at.
Nobody gets rehired through Bridges. It is part time consulting. A few weeks in Houston, a month in Perth, couple days in Bangkok. You get the idea.
@xhf, A "great way to retain access" is to keep a talented employee on the payroll, not to lay him off then rehire him through the Bridges Program. Chevron dismissed many good people who still wanted their job and were productive employees.
Bridges is a great way to retain access on a consulting basis to some people who know all about CVX culture and projects. More projects should use the program. I have met one Bridges consultant in 20 years.
I enrolled in the Bridges Program. If I'm hired back after having been laid off, I'll get an excellent lawyer and sue the piss out of the company. Age discrimination is against the law.
Life is unfair
Bridges is a part time program that may be better for special projects etc than keeping a full time employee. It's also a contract role that doesn't affect the headcount limits set after recent reorgs. That being said, I enrolled in the program and sent heads up emails to relevant managers. Crickets....