Veteran employee here. Never in my 20+ years here have I felt so stressed, so anxiety filled, so burnt out, and so diminished. Leaders at the top continue to use smoke in mirrors with what seems like government classified secrecy, while all the leaders below them walk the halls with their heads down looking at every employee like their now a disease of the company. It used to exist only in pockets where bad leadership existed. Now even the best of us are walking targets for some unknown reason.
I disagreed that we had a morale issue a year ago in the first Townhall. This year, even those on their first day feel it.
When this all blows over in a few years, like it always does, the best will have survived and those who chose to throw out basic humanity will be the ones hanging their head. This has gone far enough!
16 replies (most recent on top)
You can't be a champion of change when no one is listening or caring what employees think. Management knows what they want done and are not interested in anything else. All technology will be off shore. All other positions that can be off shored will also be moved. If the work of a team of 10 can be done by a team of 7, fire half the team. Management doesn't care about this company and it's survival.
I fully expect for the next townhall to intentionally su-k. They would love for us to quit
@k6 these types of comments and many others make me so sad. They show the reality of what people deeply feel, and it’s not grounded in anything good. The days of seeing the positive side or trying to be a champion of change are gone.
I wish they would just do mass layoffs and get it over with tbh.
The longer you work here, the more management pushes you around. They don't value SME's or deep knowledge. They do everything in their powers to destroy expertise. I don't know anymore past 50 who isn't planning for and exciting about leaving. Older employees feel trapped and many would love a package while others live in fear of a package.
@jc absolutely spot on!
@bj agreed and what a lot of leaders are missing is employees won't perform high agency work in a toxic environment. Unfortunately too many leaders don't even know what high agency is, even if they need it in their workforces more than anything these days. We're too quick to celebrate toxicity by calling it accountability, while losing sight of the core competencies that actually make the company better.
Anyway, if the goal is to extract value from the companies previous generations built, none of it matters. But if the goal is to grow the company then by definition extractive leadership principles won't work.
Completely agree. When I built up the courage to voice my concerns I was told it’s just me. When I shared my concerns for the toxic culture we were creating for the next generation of employees, again it was just me. No one wants to be the voice to express just how bad things have become as it increases the target that is on your back if you have any tenure. Tenure used to be seen as a badge of honor, and now it’s something to hide. Sad, sad place to be in.
@bc OP here. Agree it’s a broad brush, and good on you as a leader to make sure you haven’t lost or overlooked the human side in all this change. Unfortunately the amount of once great teams, once great leaders and once great engaged employees is diminishing. It’s become painful for a lot of people to walk into this company everyday not knowing if they’ll walk out with a layoff notice, a random needs improvement, or a 0% raise anymore. We need to do better. Leaders need to do better at the human side of leadership in times like this. The stress eventually takes a toll and while people may not quit, they surely can’t stay engaged.
@a4 I would agree that morale is lower here now than in my 26 yrs at the bank. That said, I think it’s painting with a broad brush to assume every team has poor morale. I have 8 team members and I check in on them once a week and not just a typical 1:1. They aren’t always thrilled w the job but what employee truly is? But I’d say they’re happy overall. All have been here 10+ yrs (one is here 38 yrs) and I doubt they are thinking of leaving unless a better opportunity pops up. If it does, it will be for that and not cause they hate their job and I’d encourage them to take it. The teams been together for 7 yrs minus one replacement for someone that got hired as a promotion in another area.
20 years, yikes. You have seen and experienced a lot. From a destination employer where workers were proud to this dumpster fire. Every person north of 50 in my area is looking for the first exit ramp.
COMPLETELY AGREE!!!!
The very best left a long time ago. They were the very best for a reason and could see this train wreck once Gunjan was made President.
But the best of what is left is also looking for the exits depending on their financial positions. Some are waiting for better opportunities or creating their own while others are just waiting for their bonus checks to clear.
Ultimately, the ones left with no desire to leave are those low(er) skilled. No doubt about it.
So if you are one of those heading for the exits, be proud and go out with your head held high as you have given your very best to this bank and lived through its heyday. Congrats on a job well done!
100% agree here. I hope every manager on this site is taking notice. I would challenge every leader and ask, how is YOUR team doing? No, REALLY doing? I guarantee there’s a whole lot they aren’t telling you. When was the last time you truly checked on your team members and paid attention to what they aren’t saying? With so much focus on strategy, and goals and the infamous layoff list, you’re losing your best talent that actually helps you achieve those goals. I challenge every manager on this site to pick your head up from the 50 meetings your in, the pages of strategy and goal decks you’re building and tender to your team. I promise you what’s happening under the surface is eroding your talent.
@a2 good for you! I suspect as the market improves USB will face their own “great resignation”.
In full agreement with this here. At MPS (Atlanta hub) the majority of peers and employees that willingly share their opinion feel exactly as you do. Senior leaders are poor leaders and morale is in the toilet. Consistent layoffs don’t help and good employees are getting sick and tired of being treated poorly. After 7 years at MPS, I’ll be turning in my notice in mid-March after bonus hits. Mental health > cr-ppy work environment 100% of the time.