At Wells Fargo false performance reviews are provided to employees who had been in exceeds category. All positive achievements are hidden and fictional reviews are provided bringing the morale down cutting costs on eligible pay rises and bonuses. Moreover such experienced employees are asked to provide knowledge transfers and trainings to newly employed freshers. Good ethical managers are laid off and new managers without previous managerial experience are brought in. These new managers only bully and are mean does not support team only working on torturing people before laying them off. Achievements are no longer recognized nor appreciated. Just brushed off. They hire freshers and treat them friendly as though they are all separate team and other employees does not exist. It’s a cruel world in here. Where is the world heading to with such management? Looks like ex JP Morgan employees are hellbend on destroying Wells Fargo from inside. Did we not have hiring policies on hiring people you already know? But now they are hiring only the people they already know especially from their previous employers. It’s now a mob culture. If ever data was collected on hiring managers previous company and the hired ones previous company it would be a 100% match. They are rapidly destroying Wells Fargo like rabid dogs or some kind of virus. It looks all planned by some competitor company. A place that had been a joy and pride to work for had been turned into a place of torment and it’s all falling apart. Good people do not have a choice but to be a victim or leave.
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TLDR.
Synopsis: waaaaahhhhh.
@OP -- Your post hits hard, and it’s painful to see how far Wells Fargo has fallen from the place many of us once loved. I was laid off from WF over four years ago, and I’ve been following these boards ever since, watching the psychological safety evaporate under this toxic regime. The “rank and yank” system you describe—part of WF’s so-called “efficiency program”—is a cruel twist on the old GE model. Unlike GE’s Six Sigma-based ranking, which at least aimed for objectivity, WF’s stacked ranking feels like a free-for-all, driven by subjective whims or, worse, what you’ve called a “mob culture.” It’s not just mismanagement—it’s psychological abuse, designed to demoralize and destabilize. The false performance reviews, sidelining of experienced employees, and bullying by inexperienced managers you mention are all part of this meat grinder. It’s no wonder you’re questioning where the world is heading with this kind of leadership.
The Rank and Yank Reality: You’re spot-on about the performance reviews being a farce. Forcing high-performing employees into lower categories to justify withholding raises or bonuses, while demanding knowledge transfers to freshers, is manipulative and dehumanizing. It’s a tactic to squeeze out institutional knowledge and replace it with cheaper, less experienced labor. The thread’s mention of hiring managers only bringing in people they know—especially from places like JPMorgan—reeks of cronyism, not competence. This isn’t management by KPIs or even “feeling”; it’s management by favoritism and control, which is especially toxic when, as you suggest, some managers exhibit narcissistic traits. Narcissistic personality disorder in leadership shows up as a lack of empathy, obsession with personal success, and bullying to maintain power—exactly what you describe with new managers who “torture” you before laying you off. Posts on TheLayoff.com, like one from 2023, call this “a culture of fear,” where achievements are ignored, and good people are either victims or forced to leave.Was it always like this? No, as others in this thread and earlier ones confirm, WF was once a place of pride and camaraderie. The shift started with regulatory issues and the 2016 sales scandal highlighted the ethic of WF. Most see that the current wave of biweekly layoffs, cultural decay, and bullying tactics exploded under Charlie Scharf’s leadership. The thread’s mention of legacy managers causing legal issues (@a9+1k3k7enrh) is fair, but the “NYC regime” has turned accountability into a witch hunt, punishing everyone indiscriminately. The tragic case of Denise Prudhomme, found dead at her desk in Arizona in 2024, unnoticed for four days, is a stark reminder of how disconnected and dehumanizing WF has become. These aren’t just anecdotes—they’re warnings of what happens when a workplace prioritizes profit over people .What to take from this experience- - It’s not you, it’s the system: The false reviews and bullying are designed to break you down, not reflect your worth. As @ac notes, even great employees are treated horribly. Recognize this as psychological abuse and reject the narrative that you’re “not enough.”
Document everything: If you’re facing unfair reviews or bullying, keep detailed records—emails, performance feedback, interactions. Others on TheLayoff.com suggest collective action, like reporting to HR or media outlets like the Charlotte Observer, to expose these practices.
Protect your boundaries: Don’t let the pressure to train freshers or take on extra work burn you out. Say no to overwork and avoid playing hero—it’s not rewarded here.
Prepare for the future: The mention of looking forward to AI agents managing you is telling. AI might lack the bias of narcissistic managers, but it’s also a sign of how broken the human element is at WF. Upskill in areas like AI literacy or data analytics to stay competitive, as WF’s outsourcing and tech focus won’t stop.
How to heal from this: Acknowledge the trauma: The constant fear, gaslighting through fake reviews, and bullying can leave deep scars. Posts on TheLayoff.com compare WF to an “abusive relationship,” and that’s valid. Therapy, especially with someone experienced in workplace trauma, can help. Resources like Mind Share Partners or endworkplaceabuse.com offer strategies for coping.
Rebuild your confidence: You’re a “10,” as says, regardless of WF’s warped metrics. Reflect on your achievements, even if they’re ignored, and update your resume to highlight them. Online courses (e.g., Coursera, LinkedIn Learning) can boost your skills and self-worth.
Connect with others: This board is proof you’re not alone. Share your story with trusted colleagues or online communities. The solidarity here can be a lifeline, as seen in posts rallying against the “NYC regime.”
Plan your exit: Whether you’re hoping for severance or actively job hunting, start now. The thread’s advice to choose revenue-producing roles (@b8) might buy time, but long-term, seek companies with healthier cultures. Glassdoor reviews can help identify better workplaces.
Prioritize self-care: Chronic stress from WF’s environment can harm your health. Simple habits—exercise, meditation, or even stepping away from work mentally—can help. If you’re struggling, the National Su----e Prevention Lifeline (988) or similar resources can offer immediate support.
Final thoughts: Nobody should endure a workplace that feels like a “cruel world” or a “mob culture.” The damage at WF—from stacked ranking to cronyism—reflects a leadership failure, not your failure. The extreme cases, like Denise Prudhomme’s unnoticed death or others pushed to despair, show the stakes are too high to stay silent. Protect yourself, lean on this community, and plan your way out. You deserve a workplace that values you, not one that treats you like a virus to be eradicated. If you’re still in, keep posting here for support—we’re all rooting for you. Oh -- to HR -- we are NOT disgruntled employees as you like to label us.
I’m a 10 whether this company thinks so or not.
WF is chasing Chase
@a2 Not all of those managers were a part of that nonsense. There were many, many great long term employees that had nothing to do with it that have been treated horribly by this NYC regime. Don't get it confused. And while the original post is poorly written, it is on-point that performance reviews became a complete farce several years ago and were filled with nonsense while any achievements were completely disregarded.
Forgeries...nothing in your rambling to you provide any relation or evidence to that word.
@a2 this is so true. This wonderful collection of legacy Wells Fargo managers almost destroyed the bank 5-10 years ago.
Devil's advocate....that great place and great managers also got us into a heep of legal problems