I don’t like a lot of things here and of course I’m looking for an opportunity to leave. However, there are those who, at least on this forum, are trying to make an argument that people who are complaining are exaggerating, are lazy and do not want to work, and that we will not find much better conditions in any other company. I pause and wonder, are we really complaining too much or are we putting up with too much at State Farm?
24 replies (most recent on top)
@dslt-John Grisham must be your favorite author and the Stepford Wives your favorite movie.
I think that in many positions they are quite expert in making sure they get the most out of people without running off too high a percentage of the actually competent ones.
I watched this with new management trainees and with maintenance staff. Same fundamental idea, different techniques.
They hire you. They start to train you. They very carefully increase the amount of mental, emotional and logistical cr-p you have to take. Like boot camp, what seems like random, arbitrary, viscous bullying is actually carefully calibrated to run off the people who will not let themselves be bullied but keeping those who will be sufficiently subservient and satisfactorily competent.
They don't want you too weak, or too strong. They want you smart 'enough' to do the job and possibly progress, but not so smart that you ever figure out or game the system (except for the truly smart ones who join the system).
They very carefully push you, right to the breaking point, and then pull back right before you completely break. This serves two functions:
- It increases your 'buy in' (indoctrination) since you've made a mental investment
- they know how much cr-p and stress you can take without totally breaking down right there and then.
The company doesn't owe you......yeah yeah yeah! The company owes you respect to not run you to the ground. The company owes you goals that are attainable. The company owes the customer that. If you think all they owe is a salary, you will see the current decline in morale. You get what you create. You get what you give.
You’re not exaggerating or lazy by any means. But if you don’t like your job, you should get a new one and leave. Company owes you nothing more than the salary and benefits they give you. If you are unsatisfied after that, go elsewhere. It’s how the free market works.
Seems like they are conducting an operation model to reach everyone's breaking point.
@5wrp Even people from protected groups are subjected to the same stress and anxiety that everyone else experiences. I believe it's SF's goal to push employees beyond their stress limit so that the employees get fed up and quit.
“just talking to customers”
That are often a combination of angry, ignorant, deceptive (i.e. straight up lying), demanding, demeaning, etc. You’re constantly being criticized for how you talk to the customers, how long you talk to them for, whether you click here and there, use templates, send texts, finalize liability with comparative negligence, setting up inspections correctly despite the customer wanting it done some other way, and constantly having to hear people say “let me talk to a manager” when they don’t like anything we do or how we do it. The stress and pressure is real. You’re being monitored with call/screen recording and there’s a ridiculous amount of data management is ready to put in your face to remind you that no matter how much you do at this fu----g place in this job, it’s never enough. Whoever thinks this is “just talking” to customers is a fu----g du----s.
I am tired of my super stressful claims role and ready to become a police officer, or prison guard, or steel worker, or oil rig, or nurse on a Covid unit, or commercial roofer, or a fireman. Any of those would be much less stressful than talking to customers!
Delusional is a 20 million dollar bonus.
Anyone who thinks it is an exaggeration how bad claims is on the mind and body, please join me for a week. I guarantee you will not be able to handle it. There is a reason it is called ABC, anything but claims, when people are looking at MyBlock for other positions.
Management is delusional. Management needs to get off their narrcistic and he's.
Your delusion is your lack of understanding of what claims is and has become. I doubt that there any jobs at the farm that meet your extreme sport analogy. That was a very stupid statement that reflects what you don’t know or care about. Crawl back in your ho-e.
Uggghhh. You act like claims is the highest stress job in the world. Wake up from your delusion. While not for everybody it is not some extreme sport.
For those of you that are still working in claims, let me give you a word of advice from someone who did it a lot longer than 99.9% of you on the front lines. First, what you do day in and day out is a silent ki---r. Whether you know it or not, your body is constantly dealing with stress. Any physician will tell you this atmosphere of being under stress while not being able to exercise will eventually catch up to you. Notice management is free to get up from their desk, move freely and meet with others. As a line CS or CA, you are not able to move freely and meet with others. Also,any physician will tell you that working on a monitor for 8 hours a day (which most of you are more because of personal communication time) causes anxiety and depression.
Do any of you have a clue what they are doing to you? It's worse than a hamster that runs in a wheel because the hamster gets exercise. Look at the health of people who have been there for years. If they don't like you or you don't fit in, they will pour so much on you your body will explode. Then when that happens, the pricks sit back and laugh while they throw some other into the cubicle to do it again.
You wouldn't believe the amount of people I have seen them hire and run to the ground. That is, unless you are in a protected class. They are ruthless while being so nice and "politically correct." I have never seen leadership at SF be so callus. Yeah, we had a few here and there but nothing like it is today. No you aren't exaggerating. You are being truthful. Just remember......they do not care about you, your family, your bills, and nothing about you. They are the pond sc-m. You are not their pond sc-m.
We need a real decision. Mandate back in the office and vaxxed!!!
@1pix If you're work is not fun, enjoyable and a challenge you will be left with no one. That kind of talk confirms the slave driver mentality that fits in with metrics based management.
Lost your perspective. It is called work and should not be confused as playtime or naptime
Victims exaggerate
If one question whether this shlt ho-e is exaggerated, the one must question their own interpretation of Stockholm syndrome.
It’s not an exaggeration. In auto injury we are way unders-staffed. We are not hiring to replace or fast enough with no consideration for the amount of time it takes to train someone. We are told that we are lucky to have capacity to help other demand pools that are worse off. Who’s fault is that? People are burned out. This environment is not conducive to sustain the increasing workload with unrealistic expectations. This what is driving people away. Everyone on my team searches desperately for other jobs in and out of SF. Upper Mgmt. had been allowing these moves but that door is going to be shut with the hurricane and the need for extra human resources. Properly staffing in claims resolves a lot of issues. This not an exaggeration either, it probably won’t be properly staffed! With top down Mgmt they don’t see or understand what it takes to keep all of the promises we sell.
Look at job turnover and retirement announcements on home page. Many experienced people leaving prior to 60th birthday because we remember a time when it was give and take with this company, and we stepped up to help during trying times with overtime in both auto and homeowners. Now OT is required and expected, and years of OT wears a person thin. Missed time off to rest and pursue other interests or hobbies, be with family and friends is exhausting. There is never a good time to be away from claims, as there is always another hurricane, tornado, pipe freeze event, rain event causing back up of water into homes, hail storm, etc. It takes a toll on adjusters who love our customers and know they deserve exceptional claim service, but realizing if you meet the SF metrics you have to hurry them along and try to do minimal for them. My conscience wouldn't allow that, causing my stress level to skyrocket. There are some that can compartmentalize and handle stress more than others. If you are in claims you are not exaggerating.
No, it would be an exaggeration to say that this is a good place to work.
Based upon syntax and writing style it’s obvious that the same few people post nearly all of the hyperbolic rants….er….topics here. That’s what’s tedious. Genuine conversation about things we see happening would be a very refreshing change.
We are definitely putting up with a lot.
But, the people that come on here worrying about returning to the office are complaining too much. You’re posting about your fears and it bores the he-l out of me. What you’re feeling might be valid but why post about it here?