Thread regarding Chicago Bridge & Iron layoffs

I think they call it a death spiral. Typical for corporate America these days. CEO's stripping the companies so they can get their bonus.

It just go to show, you reap what you sow.

As an engineer, there is no way I would let CB&I Houston build my plant. As a stupid businessman that only looks at dollars, CB&I might stand a chance. They understand cutting corners very well. They have cut so many corners that they are going around in circles now :). You get what you pay for!

We’re you in a coma for four years?

“Over 40 years as one of the little guys....work hard, follow co. policy-don't rock the boat, stay abreast latest skill sets, accept blame for mistakes-fix them rapidly....you'll be OK, but as anything there's exceptions, just a few of my 36yr observations. I look forward to updating this post after the buyout complete.”

I am not sure of your work location but here in Houston (WC, OP, and RD) it is a very different story altogether. We finished GCA FEED and almost done with IGP FEED. Then we are almost done with Total engineering. Chances of getting GCA is very low with onerous terms from the client. IGP is also questionable. At this rate, whether we have been here for 36 years or not, there will not be any projects after June. At that point, unless McDermott can bring in new projects, we know where we will end up.

I can tell by your reply, you are not with Lummus or Houston. That was the birth of CMS and when things started going down. The only thing good that came out of Lummus was iDocs and technology. Document management has been able to screw iDocs up. They think they run the company. KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid!

From responses- my office must differ from the rest. This office retains experienced well skilled employees, smallish raises, but at least something. Of course in every office, there's the buddy-buddy-family system, and it does have some influence.

My office has been fairly managed, far from perfect, but I've been in the business 36 years and don't see much difference in the companies and offices. Suspect some posts herein come from 'deadwoods' who never had a chance to succeed anyway. Don't we love to complain, blame others, especially management.

Over 40 years as one of the little guys....work hard, follow co. policy-don't rock the boat, stay abreast latest skill sets, accept blame for mistakes-fix them rapidly....you'll be OK, but as anything there's exceptions, just a few of my 36yr observations. I look forward to updating this post after the buyout complete!

Cheaper vs doing it right:

CBI has not been known for doing it right for a long time and the current position really shows how a slow motion train wreck will bring down a 125 year old company. If your a lifelong CBI guy, you would have seen the quality deteriorate over the past decades. Going into markets without knowing what getting into. Wrong people. Screwing over customers.

In regards to cheap. There are Indian and Chinese firms that I will use because they have caught up and in many ways excelled past companies like CBI.

Finally the changes in corporate america are true but the culture at Cbi is not to speak up which didn’t redirect this slow motion train wreck.

Amen Brother. I totally agree with you. CB&I has been in the cost cutting business for years so that Phil could get a bigger bonus. It is not just CB&I, it is corporate America. Our values have changed. We are into cheap now, not doing it right.

I agree with the comment that it Is not the recent new hires that are first to go, generally it is the one who has been with the company the longest, sometimes the one with the experience, knowledge, and competence from past experiences is the first to go as they generally are the ones making the bigger salaries. And many times these people are not the deadwood but the most valuable employees. These employees go work for the competition where they share their experience, knowledge, technical expertise with their new employer to the detriment of their former employer. I think this is one of the reasons CBI Is now struggling. Take care of your employees, treat them fairly and with respect and they will repay you with loyalty, hard work and the will to succeed. You treat them otherwise and they will leave. It is a wonder that so many companies today ignore this basic management principle.

Appears the first to go are generally, contractors, recent new hires and deadwood. If you're a solid performer and there's work, should be ok, for now.

This is BS! If you do not play their silly little game or if you speak up because something is not right, your gone! Management knows it all and is not smart enough to listen. They are so buy trying to keep their jobs they are sweeping stuff under the rug.

I heard 30 to 40% from the union. Long term orders will not support the current numbers.