Thread regarding General Motors layoffs

Most of you guys have to much pride. Looking to much into it. It's a job. Make as much money as you can and save some for a rainy day. Do things that interest you. Make family number one. Enjoy life. Sh-- happens. Nothing lasts for ever. Fight for what YOU believe in. Have a nice day. Kick some a--.

xfa, can't disagree with any of that at this point. Which is a shame, because It is also the definition of mediocrity, waiting to be out-competed.

I work for Ford which has similar cultural issues to GM. I agreed totally with the OP's comments and am adding a few of my own. Here is my philosophy regarding my so called career.

1. Do not expect to be noticed for high performance. Flying below the radar and not contradicting management or making more work for your group is more valued than a good idea.

2. Never assume that your management will protect you. As the OP said, they will do what they can to save their job first.

3. Look around you in your group. Are you like everyone in your group? Similar, demographics, communication style, attitude? Or do you stand out somehow. If you do, consider that a target on your back in bad times.

4. There is no room for passion. a passionate idea can be voiced once to show that you are not goofing off and doing the minimum, but should be dropped as soon as your manager shows disinterest. It does not pay to fight for an idea.

5. Look at the age of those in your group. If you are older, no matter what you bring to the table you are more at risk than your coworkers.

6. Don't keep a job that you can't stand just for the benefits. Those benefits will disappear over time. For those at GM that have been around awhile, think back to what kind of healthcare and pension contributions you used to get twenty, ten, and even five years ago, and look at what you are getting now. The benefits are shrinking and will continue to do so. This makes auto jobs not much better than anywhere else, and working for GM or Ford not much better than working anywhere else.

7. Don't take any of it seriously. It's a job, not a career. Only executives have careers at GM, and perhaps those just coming in from college that will be groomed to take over. For the rest of us, it's a job.

Well said auto cycle!

I work for GM, and THIS person knows what they are talking about. Best thing I’ve read here.

I survived the cuts (I think), but felt there was a significant probability that I or others on my team, or the whole team, would be cut. I tried to be stoic about it.

GM has had several salaried reductions during the past 15 years. I remember cuts around 2003, 2005, I think. But this one has been the worse to me. Perhaps because I’m older now; perhaps because during past cuts I didn’t have anything to worry about (or so I thought then, even as I saw a few individuals cut who I thought had even less to worry about); perhaps because GM is doing so well, I’m shocked. Probably a combination of all of these—but the last reason looms large.

And I don’t think it’s just me. I think many people have been shaken. It will affect them, and I don’t think it will motivate them more to try even harder. It may motivate them more to do their job as narrowly defined as possible, and work harder to CYA.

I don’t think the upcoming meetings or “chats” with directors who will thank us for all we’ve done, and for understanding this “difficult time”,and exhorting us not to let the sacrifice of our colleagues be in vain by doing all we can and more to “live our values” and cut costs so we can beat the “headwinds” and meet our “commitments”, yes, all this BS is not going to compensate for the numbness or sadness or anger many survivors have over seeing good people fired during good times.

I’m sure there will be no “Workplace of Choice’ survey this year.

I generally like my coworkers. I’m fortunate that my current bosses are principled; yet I recognize they are well paid and will do whatever is necessary to keep their job.

However, the higher we go up MY chain of command, the less I think of my bosses’ bosses.

I’m thankful I made it. I’m also thankful that other 7-levels I know who were at risk, whose talents exceed mine by far and who should be managers or directors, appear to have made it, so I won’t have “survivors’ remorse”.

In 1812, Napoleon embarked on his invasion of Russia with 500,000 men. It didn’t end well, he returned with 50,000.

Auto Cycle, I salute you! If you are in fact a GM employee, I’m glad you made it. We can never have enough people like you—and we need more like you at the director/VP level and fewer sycophants.

The best side gig is a spouse with a comparable salary. And live as though you only get one of those two paychecks.

Please share what side gigs GM folks are doing while working. I want to do it, but not sure what. Some examples would greatly help. Thx.

Bravo! Amazing....been there for 25 yrs....and I agree this is a post by which you should live your life. Had started my side gig 6 yrs ago and this incident has now reinforced my desire to give it more

5

Start a side hustle (as I did in 2001) doing something you LOVE TO DO part time and market yourself accordingly. When the moment presents itself, take it full time, and never look back. If it fails, you will have nobody to bash, blame, or criticize but yourself.

Very good advice. The one thing I would say is... culture does matter. On paper it may seem difficult to match work/life and pay/benefits that GM provides. However, if a similar role exists elsewhere with a better culture that is worth a lot more than a slight cut in pay.

Lots of good advice here, especially for the younger generation. To the young new hires, save your money! Put away at least 6 months of living expenses. You never know when the next big layoff is coming.