Thread regarding Chevron Corp. layoffs

I hope you are well, 2tpzw. It’s unfortunate about your health and the company re-org that ended your career at 55. I got involuntarily severed in 2016 at 58 and my health was great. But the lesson to everyone is that we must take advantage of what we have in life and don’t take anything for granted. Life or your job can end at anytime. Make the best of your situation by living within your means, saving as much as possible for your eventual retirement, not biting off more than you can chew.

I retired from CVX at 55 (now approaching 60), after a confluence of factors, and have really never looked back. I had a good career, hopscotched around the U.S. in largely enjoyable jobs, but the final stop (Houston) wore me down with the awful traffic–even with a vanpool to help. I had an "aortic dissection"–basically my aorta came apart right at the aortic heart valve–and it (of course) nearly k–led me just prior to the major re-orgs of 2015-2016. With my opco looking "involuntary volunteers" for "involuntary termination" and a year's severance, it was too good to pass up. Besides, after a part-time return to work that was bumpy, health-wise, it was time to pull the plug and do something else. I passed the series 65 Investment Law exam in April, and now do investment advising work. When I want to. I will say I miss the people I worked with, though. I had a lot of friends there, and I had worked with many of them, at least on-and-off, for nearly my entire career.

What say I, @1ejkl, is the company should always hire and retain the very best talent possible. Whether it’s a combination of hiring fresh blood, poaching top people from our competitors and industry or keeping the oldest fossils around because they are essential masters in their field— all the above are good reasons. Nobody’s job is guaranteed, but the company should always think of keeping the very best talent around.

Some think all the more mature staff should be hurried along toward their lucrative retirement to make room for hungry millenials. What say you?

Working for 27 years at Chevron was an easy gig for me because I enjoyed my work and knew how to do it well. To me it was more rewarding than work. In all my office jobs, I enjoyed 9-hour workdays with every other Friday off, relatively no overtime, and I had great benefits. My plan was not to retire before age 65, but the company had other plans. In 2016, I was laid off for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Oh yes, and also for being highly paid and over 55.

Because some people working at Chevron actually put in a lot work, they work long hours, get very little time off, some work weeks or even months of long days with no days off and they actually work hard while they are there. Some people who work there actually have very stressful jobs and even though they are paid well to do it, the toll the long hours working a stressful position can take on them is not worth staying for once they have enough money to retire, regardless of their age. If you wonder why some have those kind of jobs and actually do the work, it is because they are hard workers who have enough honor and integrity to do what they are suppose to do while working and they have do even more because of the people who go in to supposedly work, but don't do much of anything but socialize and leave early and often take time off, leaving someone else to do all the work. They have to do even more than they should because of the slackers, but because they are honorable people, they do it and those are the people who keep the company in business. If the only people working there were the ones who have an easy gig with short hours, Chevron would have closed up long ago.

I think that there's some merit to the notion of working until normal retirement age, or at least 60+, as long as you like your work and/or can swing a part-time position. I was off for about a year after layoffs and had enough income sources to retire, but didn't have enough to do. I can only fish hunt, etc so many days a week. I actually like coming back to the office. Making a few bucks, having a solid cash flow. There's a lot to be said for the people you see, new friends you regularly meet, maintaining a role/position that you built throughout your life etc. Young folks (including me a while back) don't really see it and appreciate it. Doing nothing with your life is not really what it's cut out to be. Try it, and let us all know. Everyone's different.

Good points. Additionally, you never know when a fabulous package will be offered which could greatly enhance retirement. So, why not stick around and enjoy yourself?

If you have nothing else to do with your life, then by all means feel free to work until you drop. I got a long bucket list and have nearly hit my planned FIRE threshold....then asta vista baby! Life is too short!

No one ever died wishing they had spent more time in the office.

So your choice is either to work or be a couch potato in your house every day. Why not go out, play sport, travel, join a gang ...

I agree that working at CVX is not too different from being retired, so why not let the gravy train ride along at six or seven figures per year? Easy money. And it sure beats hanging around the house, getting henpecked to death, day drinking, and waiting to die.

Exactly

Because they can. Often persons join the company in their 20's. By the time they have 30 - 35 years in, most are well set financially. Why continue to work when you have plenty money saved and enough cash flow from investments to fund your retirement? Enjoy life while you have breath in your lungs and decent mobility. Tomorrow is promised to no one. 65 plus years of age is no picnic. Whenever you reach the ability to retire comfortably and not worry over money, I suggest you do.

There’s no real important reason to retire before 65 when you are working at Chevron. It’s an easy job for the money they pay. Lots of people put in half the effort that others do in other corporations and don’t get reprimanded or fired. Working at Chevron is pretty much a gravy train. There’s very little accountability from management toward the slackers, women or protected classes. Why would you ever consider retiring when you’re practically retired already when working at CXV? All you need to do is show up and get paid twice monthly as your pension plan increases. Duh!!!